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1. Ten most common occupational groups of employed persons and employed women and men in 2019 compared to 2014

According to the data of Statistics Finland's employment statistics, the most common occupations at the end of 2019 were shop sales assistants (107,300), health care assistants (75,500) and nurses (71,200). Over the past five years, two occupational groups, general secretaries and transport and storage labourers have dropped from the list of the ten most common occupational groups. Social work associate professionals as well as home-based personal care workers rose to the top ten.

Figure 1. Ten most common occupational groups for employed persons in 2019 (The figure was corrected on 26 October 2022)

The most common occupational groups were examined on the 4-digit level of the Classification of Occupations 2010. ¹⁾

In 2019, a total of 33,800 persons worked as general secretaries and the occupational group held position 13, while five years ago, its position was still 8th. At the time, 39,000 persons worked as general secretaries. Around 9,500 of those working as general secretaries in 2014 were no longer employed in 2019 or did not belong to the population.

In 2019, a total of 38,800 persons worked as transport and storage labourers and the occupational group held position 11, while five years ago, its position was still 10th. At the time, 35,200 persons worked as transport and storage labourers. Around 7,200 persons working as transport and storage labourers in 2014 were no longer employed in 2019 or did not belong to the population.

In 2019, women worked most commonly as shop sales assistants (70,600), health care assistants (67,500) and nurses (65,300). Men's most common occupational groups were heavy truck and lorry drivers (41,100), shop sales assistants (36,700) and house builders (35,000).

Shop sales assistants was the only occupational group that was included in the ten most common occupational groups of both women and men in 2019, as in all years in the past five years. The shares of shop sales assistants did not have any changes for women and men either in the period 2014 to 2019. Around 66 per cent of shop sales assistants were women and around 34 per cent men.

1.1 Women’s ten most common occupational groups changed only in positions during 2014 to 2019

The ten most common occupational groups of women and men have not changed much from five years ago. Compared to 2019, among the ten most common occupational groups for employed women in 2014, positions among the top ten varied only.

Table 1. Most common occupational groups in 2019 among employed women of aged 18 to 74 (AML2010 4-digit level)

Occupational group (AML2010 4-digit level)	Employed persons	Women	Of all employed women, %	Share of women, %	Share of men, %
5223 Shop sales assistants	107 264	70 573	6,0	65,8	34,2
5321 Health care assistants	75 515	67 481	5,7	89,4	10,6
3221 Nursing associate professionals	71 219	65 288	5,5	91,7	8,3
9112 Cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments	68 267	56 040	4,7	82,1	17,9
5311 Child care workers	43 527	2 445	0,2	5,6	94,4
3412 Social work associate professionals	42 125	40 166	3,4	95,3	4,7
5322 Home-based personal care workers	41 729	32 965	2,8	79,0	21,0
4120 Secretaries (general)	41 348	26 979	2,3	65,2	34,8
5120 Cooks	41 085	35 998	3,0	87,6	12,4
2341 Primary school teachers	40 331	13 916	1,2	34,5	65,5
Employed persons among the ten most common occupational groups of women	206 618	150 024	3,0	71,9	28,1
Employed persons, total	2 373 526	1 183 554	100,0	50,2	49,8

Nurses rose from the fourth to the third place, and the number of women working as nurses went up by 3,900 employed persons. A total of 65,300 women worked as nurses in 2019. The ranking of home-based personal care workers rose from the sixth to the eighth position. In 2019, the number of women working as home-based personal care workers was 11,800 higher than in 2014 (24,200 persons in 2014). In 2019, a total of 33,000 women worked as social work associate professionals in 2016, which is 10,600 women more than in 2014. Social work associate professionals rose from the seventh to the eighth position.

1.2 Mechanical engineers among ten most common occupational groups for men

In five years, mechanical engineering technicians have dropped from the ten most common occupational groups of men and mechanical engineers have taken their place, in position 10.

In 2019, there were 17,900 men working as mechanical engineers. The number of male mechanical engineers grew by 2,300 compared with 2014.

Table 2. Most common occupational groups in 2019 among employed men of aged 18 to 74 (AML2010 4-digit level)

Occupational group (AML2010 4-digit level)	Employed persons	Men	Of all employed men, %	Share of men, %	Share of women, %
8332 Heavy truck and lorry drivers	43 527	41 082	15,7	94,4	5,6
7111 House builders	107 264	36 691	38,7	34,2	65,8
5223 Shop sales assistants	37 071	34 959	13,4	94,3	5,7
9333 Freight handlers	38 834	31 244	14,0	80,5	19,5
3322 Commercial sales representatives	40 331	26 415	14,5	65,5	34,5
7231 Motor vehicle mechanics and repairers	28 924	23 611	10,4	81,6	18,4
5153 Building caretakers	23 582	22 508	8,5	95,4	4,6
2512 Software developers	25 978	22 381	9,4	86,2	13,8
7233 Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers	21 061	20 503	7,6	97,4	2,6
7115 Carpenters and joiners	19 724	17 913	7,1	90,8	9,2
Employed persons among the ten most common occupational groups of men	386 296	277 307	139,3	71,9	28,1
Employed persons, total	2 373 526	1 189 972	855,9	50,2	49,8

In 2019, the number of men working as mechanical engineering technicians was 13,950, which was 2,300 men lower than in 2014. In 2019, the occupational group was in position 17, while five years ago, its position was the 10th. Around 12,900 of men working as mechanical engineers in 2014 were no longer employed in 2019 or did not belong to the population.

1) The data on occupations remained unknown for 3.8 per cent of all employed persons, for some 3.6 per cent of all employed women and for 4.0 per cent of employed men in 2019.

Source: Employment Statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Juho Keva 029 551 3601, info@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Updated 18.11.2021