Half of the students in Finland work during their studies

Half of the students in Finland work during their studies, according to the latest education statistics published by Statistics Finland.

Numbers show that 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.

55% of university students had an employment contract while studying and 58% of university of applied sciences (polytechnics) students. In vocational education, 47% of students were employed during studies. In upper secondary general education, 33% were employed alongside studies.

Women worked while studying more frequently than men: 55% of women and 47% of men had an employment relationship while studying.

Examined by type of education, 38% of women in upper secondary general education were working alongside studies and 26% of men.  Of women studying in vocational education, 50% were employed while studying and 44% of men.

59% of women studying for a university of applied sciences degree were employed while studying and 50% of men. Of women studying for a higher university degree, 62% were employed during studies and of men, 62%.

By field of education

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

Employment of students during studies varied by field of education. At the end of 2019, altogether 62% of students in the fields of business, administration and law, 60% of students in education, 58% of students in social sciences, 58% of students in health and welfare, and 46% 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.