Introduction

Lengthening of working career period has been considered a possible solution to the economic problems of the public sector in Finland. The argument offered is that if people continued working longer, tax revenue would increase, and there would be less need for austerity measures. There are four major demographic determinants that shorten working careers of the Finnish workforce:  1) late commencement of working career due to prolonged duration of formal studies, 2) high unemployment rate, 3) disability and 4) early retirement. (Nurminen 2011, 36.)

The Finnish Government aims to extend career periods for example by accelerating the university studies. It is argued that working while studying is the main reason for the prolongation of university studies. According to Eurostudent survey (2008) working alongside studies is very common in most European countries. More than 50 percent of all students work in half of the observed 23 countries. Most students work alongside studying also in Finland although the student’s subsidy system is relatively good compared to many other European countries. The students’ financial aid without the student loan covers only part of the costs caused by studying and therefore many students have to cover the expenses with the income from employment. According to Ministry of Education the students’ subsidy system should be developed so that it encourages a student to concentrate on full-time studies and reduce one’s necessity to work at the same time. (ME 2009.) In spite of these plans there is no sufficient research-based information about significance of work experience and in particularly connection between working alongside studying and subsequent labour market careers.

This study examines the connection between the rate of working alongside studies and the employment situation of Finnish university graduates five years after their graduation. (Aho & Vanttaja & Hynninen 2012.) The main task is to assess the effects of working to academic performance, speed of the studying and later employment by comparing different student groups.

Research questions are following:

1.      How much and what kind of work the students have done during their studies? (quality, duration, utility)

2.      What are the effects of working alongside studies after graduation? (access to employment, unemployment, income)

References Aho, S. & Vanttaja, M. & Hynninen, S-M. 2012. Working while studying. The longitudinal study regarding careers of Finnish higher education students (Forthcoming) Eurostudent 2008. Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe. Eurostudent III 2005-2008. Lindberg, M. E. 2007. ”At the Frontier of Graduate Surveys” Assessing participation and employability of graduates with master’s degree in nine European countries. Higher Education 53, (5), 623-644. Lindberg, M. E. 2009. Student and early career mobility patterns among highly educated people in Germany, Finland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Higher Education 58, (3), 339-358. ME 2009. Ministry of Education. Structural development of student financial aid. Helsinki: Reports of the Ministry of Education. 2009:33. Nurminen, Markku (2011). Working-life Expectancy in Finland: Development in 2000–2009 and Forecast for 2010–2015. A Multistate Life Table Approach.Finnish Centre for Pension 6/2011.