Survey shows young Finns’ views on working life divided by family background

Young people’s outlook on working life in Finland is sharply divided by family background, gender, and sense of belonging, according to a survey commissioned by the organisation Nuorten yrittäjyys ja talous (NYT). The 2026 NYT Future Report, published by Finnish public broadcaster Yle, polled 6,435 lower and upper secondary school students across the country in early spring.

The survey found that parental employment status strongly correlated with how positively or cautiously a young person viewed their own prospects. Among respondents whose parents were both unemployed or whose employment status was unknown, 61 percent believed they had a good future. Among those with both parents employed, the figure rose to 77 percent.

Work experience also divided the group. Half of respondents had worked within the past year; half had not. Those with recent work experience held more positive attitudes toward work and stronger confidence in their own job-readiness, and were also less worried about workplace burnout.

Overall confidence has grown in recent years: 74 percent of respondents rated their own future positively, and 83 percent felt they could influence it. Yet only half of young people said they looked forward to entering working life, although three in four believed they would find their place.

Young people’s preferred fields emphasised financial security and a sense of purpose: social and health care, retail, and banking and finance topped the list. Interest in arts and media fields had declined.

Attitudes on gender roles in working life were mixed. While 71 percent agreed that gender should not matter in career choice, 44 percent nevertheless felt that certain professions were more suitable for one gender. Among boys, 58 percent held this view; among girls, 29 percent.

Attitudes toward entrepreneurship were broadly positive: 63 percent considered businesses important to society, and 44 percent could imagine working as an entrepreneur.

The NYT Future Report was produced in cooperation with LähiTapiola, the Finnish National Agency for Education, and the AMKE Association for the Development of Vocational Competence, with input from the University of Helsinki and Åbo Akademi. Data collection and analysis were carried out by Taloustutkimus.