Young People, Education and Work: Trends and Changes in Finland in the 1990s

Abstract

The main purpose of the paper is to produce information about how the educational and labour market situation of Finnish young people has changed during the last decade. The empirical findings are based mainly on information gathered from official statistics and different registers based on census data and also from annual labour force studies made in the years 1990-99. It is argued that there are now more risks and insecurities connected with young people's labour market status in Finland than before. Simultaneously, the connection between education and employment has become more apparent. Although even those with the highest educational qualifications cannot be sure about their forthcoming success in their working life, those with the minimum of education have great difficulties in getting jobs. In the worst situation, it means that those with the fewest resources will drop out of the competition during their first school years, while the others suffer from constant pressure to 'make it' in education and work in order to succeed in life.