struktuurimuutus

Struktuurimuutus is the long-term realignment of the structure of an economy, industry, or organization, where the shares of different sectors or activities change significantly. In economics, it describes a shift in value added and employment away from one sector toward others, often moving from agriculture to industry and then to services. It is distinguished from short-term fluctuations (business cycles) by its slower pace and persistence.

In national economies, struktuurimuutus is driven by technological progress, capital deepening, globalization, policy choices, and demographic change. It tends to increase productivity and living standards but can create transitional costs, such as temporary unemployment or regional imbalances. The process is influenced by the availability of education, infrastructure, and institutional support for innovation.

Indicators include the changing shares of GDP and employment by sector, capital stock by sector, productivity differentials, and urbanization patterns. Analysts may use shift-share analysis, input-output tables, or dynamic factor models to measure structural change and its drivers.

In corporate or organizational contexts, struktuurimuutus can refer to restructuring efforts—reorganizing divisions, processes, or governance to improve efficiency, adapt to digitalization, or adjust to market shifts. Effective struktuurimuutus requires strategic planning, retraining, and social dialogue to manage transition costs.