työuria

Työura, commonly written työura in Finnish, denotes the span and development of a person’s working life—from entering paid work to retirement. The compound form työuria appears in some texts as a variant form, but the concept remains the same: the length, quality, and trajectories of active employment over the lifetime.

Measurement and use: In statistics and policy discussions, työura is often measured in years of paid employment or full-time equivalent (FTE) years. It may include periods of stable employment, part-time work, or temporary gaps, depending on the data source and policy framework. In pension systems, the length of the working life helps determine pension entitlements and effective retirement age.

Determinants: Education, health, and job opportunities strongly shape a person’s työura. Family responsibilities, caregiving, and care leave can shorten it, especially for women, although policy tools such as pension credits for caregiving and flexible retirement options aim to compensate.

Policy and research: Governments monitor average työura lengths to assess labour market participation and sustainability of pension systems. Initiatives to extend working life include raising retirement ages, promoting lifelong learning, and encouraging older workers to stay employed.

See also: pension, retirement age, labour market participation, ageism.