työurilla

Työurilla is a Finnish term used in labor market discourse to describe people who are actively engaged in work. In broad use, it denotes individuals who are employed or otherwise participating in productive activity, as opposed to those who are unemployed, retired, or outside the labor force. The term is not part of official statistics, but it appears in media, policy analysis, and academic writing to discuss the size and characteristics of the working population and to frame questions about work life, flexibility, and welfare.

Etymology and usage: The word is a compound of työ (work) and the suffix -llä/-lla, here used figuratively to convey being in the middle of a working life or on a career path. The expression is idiomatic and its precise interpretation can vary by context; it is often employed to emphasize active participation in work rather than the mere presence of employment.

Context and implications: Työurilla is used in discussions of labor market dynamics, such as job stability, working hours, gig economy participation, and transitions between employment and education. Analysts sometimes use it to describe aging workforces, long-term participation in work among older adults, or the persistence of work among younger entrants. The term can carry normative connotations about the value of work-life engagement but remains a descriptive label rather than a legal or statistical category.

See also: Employment, Labor market, Gig economy, Work-life balance, Finnish welfare state.