ansiotyö

Ansiotyö is a Finnish term that refers to paid employment—work for which an individual receives compensation in the form of wages or a salary. The word combines ansio, meaning earnings, with työtä, meaning work. In official statistics and social policy, ansiotyö denotes work performed for pay, typically under an employment contract with an employer or organization. It is usually distinguished from unpaid work and from self‑employment or entrepreneurship, which are categorized separately in many contexts.

The concept covers a range of arrangements, including full‑time, part‑time, temporary, and seasonal employment, as long as the work is compensated. Ansiotyö is a central source of earned income in Finland and is commonly used in taxation, social security, and welfare analyses. Income from ansiotyö is counted toward earnings-related benefits, pension accrual, and other income‑based policy measures, and it helps define eligibility and benefit levels in various social programs. In labor market statistics, ansiotyö is a key component for measuring employment, wage levels, and productivity.

In practice, ansiotyö serves as a benchmark for distinguishing earned income from other forms of income, such as capital income or transfer payments. It remains a core concept in discussions about work incentives, wage policy, and labor market performance in Finland. See also: ansiotulo, palkkatyö, työttömyysturva.