alojen

Alojen is the genitive plural form of the Finnish noun ala, which means field, sector, branch, or domain. In Finnish, alojen is used to indicate belonging to or relation between something and several fields or sectors. It is commonly found in economic, educational, and cultural contexts.

In practice, alojen appears in phrases describing parts of society or economy that encompass multiple fields. Examples include teollisuuden alojen kehittäminen (development of the industrial sectors), palvelualojen kasvu (growth of the service sectors), and koulutus- ja kulttuurialojen tutkimus (research in education and culture sectors). The singular form alan is used when referring to a single field, as in teknologian alan kehittäminen or koulutusalan kehittäminen.

Ala is related to the term toimiala, which also refers to an industry or line of business. While ala is a broader concept denoting a field or domain, toimiala tends to emphasize a specific industry or business area. Both terms can appear in plural phrases to discuss multiple sectors, such as alojen kehittäminen or toimialojen kehittäminen, depending on the nuance and context.

Etymology and usage notes: ala originates from Finnish roots shared with other Finnic languages, where it conveys the idea of a domain or field of activity. In formal and policy language, alojen is a common connector of adjectives and nouns that describe parts of the economy, education, culture, and public administration.