yrkeskategori

Yrkeskategori is a Finnish term that refers to a broad grouping of occupations classified according to common tasks, required skills, or work context. The word combines yrke (occupation) with kategori (category).

This concept is used in labor market analysis, education planning, and social and economic data management to simplify the vast range of individual occupations into manageable categories. In practice, yrkeskategori is not a fixed international standard but a label used in Finnish data sources, which may follow international schemes such as ISCO or be based on national classification systems.

Data classification schemes use yrkeskategori to enable comparisons over time and between regions. Analysts group occupations by factors like primary job tasks, required training, or level of formal education, and then analyze employment rates, wages, or unemployment risk by category.

Because the details depend on the data source, the exact composition of a yrkeskategori can vary between datasets. It is used in labor market reporting, vocational guidance, and policy evaluation. In education, yrkeskategori helps align curricula with the needs of the economy.