Finnish workers say work ability improves, but burnout risk stays high

New research by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health indicates that Finnish employees feel more capable at work than they did a year earlier, with 43% rating their overall work ability as excellent versus 39% previously. The survey assessed five dimensions—physical, cognitive, social, emotional and skills-related—finding the strongest scores in physical ability and the weakest in handling others' emotions. Younger staff showed higher physical and cognitive scores but also reported more frequent boredom, lower daily engagement, and greater loneliness, suggesting mixed wellbeing outcomes.

Regardless of age, 26% of workers were classified as having an elevated risk of burnout, a proportion that remains above pre-pandemic levels. Researchers linked burnout to bureaucratic hurdles, conflicting role expectations, and rigid procedures, while remote work showed no impact on overall work ability assessments.