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Published: 12 March 2021

One-half of students are working during their studies

According to Statistics Finland's education statistics, one-half of students aged at least 18 were working alongside studies in 2019. Working was most common in connection with university and university of applied sciences studies. Fifty-five per cent of university students had an employment contract while studying and 58 per cent of university of applied sciences students. In vocational education, 47 per cent of students were employed during studies. In upper secondary general education, 33 per cent of students were employed alongside studies.

Shares of employed students aged at least 18 of all students in 2010–2019

The figures concerning vocational education for 2019 are not comparable with those for earlier years.

The figures concerning vocational education for 2019 are not comparable with those for earlier years. As regards vocational education, starting from 2019, data for the cross-sectional period concerns all students regardless of the way of acquiring skills. The ways of acquiring skills are educational institution-based education, training agreement and apprenticeship training. The cross-sectional number of students is not comparable with the numbers of students in previous years, because prior to 2019, data for the cross-sectional period on 20 September included students in apprenticeship training for the entire statistical reference year. From 2019 onwards students in apprenticeship training are included only if they have been registered as students by the provider of education at the cross-sectional period. Further information about employment of students in vocational education can be found in the database tables.

Women worked while studying more frequently than men: 55 per cent of women and 47 per cent of men had an employment relationship while studying. Thirty-eight per cent of women in upper secondary general education were working alongside studies and 26 per cent of men. Of women studying in vocational education, 50 per cent were employed while studying and 44 per cent of men. Fifty-nine per cent of women studying for a university of applied sciences degree were employed while studying and 50 per cent of men. Of women studying for a higher university degree, 62 per cent were employed during studies and of men, 62 per cent.

There were differences in working during studies among different age groups. In all, 31 per cent of 18-year-old students, 38 per cent of 21-year-old students and 51 per cent of 24-year-old students had an employment relationship. Among students aged 25 or over, 62 per cent were employed during their studies.

Employment of students during studies varied by field of education. At the end of 2019, altogether 62 per cent of students in the fields of business, administration and law, 60 per cent of students in education, 58 per cent of students in social sciences, 58 per cent of students in health and welfare, and 46 per cent of students in humanities and arts had a valid employment relationship.

Employment during studies was more common than average for the whole country in the regions of Uusimaa, Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, South Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Åland.

More detailed information about students' employment can be found in the database tables. More information related to the progress of studies is available from the statistics on Progress of studies and Discontinuation of education .

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Vesa Hämäläinen 029 551 2594, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Employment of students aged at least 18 years in 2019 and the share of employed students of all students in 2007-2019 (12.3.2021)
• Appendix table 2. Employment of students aged at least 18 by level of education and gender in 2019 1) (12.3.2021)
• Appendix table 3. Students and employed students aged at least 18 years by level of education and age in 2019 1) (12.3.2021)

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Updated 12.3.2021