Työvoimaan

Työvoimaan is the illative form of the Finnish noun työvoima, meaning the labor force or workforce. It indicates movement into the labor force or inclusion within it and is used when the context expresses entering that category. By contrast, the inessive form työvoimassa means being in the labor force at a given moment.

Työvoima refers to people who are able to work and are either employed or actively seeking work; together they comprise the labor force. People outside the labor force include students, retirees, homemakers, and others not seeking employment.

In statistical and policy language in Finland, phrases such as työvoimaan kuuluminen (belonging to the labor force) and osallistuminen työvoimaan (participation in the labor force) are common. The illative form serves to convey change of status or movement into the labor force, while työvoimassa describes current status.

Etymology: työvoima is a compound of työ (work) and voima (power). The illative form työvoimaan is formed in line with Finnish case patterns for movement into a category.

Usage notes: The choice between työvoimaan and työvoimassa depends on whether the sentence describes entering the labor force or being part of it. In everyday Finnish, terms related to labor market participation are common in discussions of unemployment, employment, and workforce demographics.