Finland is wasting the strong work motivation of people over 50

A large proportion of people over 50 have a strong desire to work and the readiness for major career changes, yet they face limited new job opportunities. A clear majority of those who have made significant career transitions feel pride and passion for their work and believe their skills align well with the needs of working life, according to a study by staffing company StaffPoint.

“In Finland, there is a large group of people over 50 who are ready for new jobs and even major changes in their careers. Unfortunately, Finland is wasting this potential. In my view, we can’t afford that — the front doors of working life must be opened to everyone who is motivated to work, regardless of age,” says StaffPoint’s CEO, Anu Ahokas.

Career changes pay off

Fortunately, Finns show a strong desire and ability to remain in working life for a long time, according to StaffPoint’s study.

StaffPoint’s survey targeted people aged 50–75 who are actively seeking work, considering changing jobs, or have changed jobs within the past year. A total of 1,245 people over the age of 50 responded.

The results confirm that change can provide new momentum when energy at work starts to fade. Half of the respondents had made major career changes, and a clear majority assessed the impact of those changes as positive. Only 15% said their situation had worsened after changing jobs.

Even those merely considering a career change believed in its potential: 70% of all respondents thought a new job would significantly improve their quality of life.

“Employers should consider how they can offer interesting career paths for people over 50 to bring new meaning to their work. An empowering path doesn’t always need to lead upward or out the door. Can we as employers really afford to lose these experienced professionals?” asks Ahokas.

Back to work after retirement

Nine percent of respondents were retired but still working or wishing to work part-time or on a temporary basis. In the current economic climate, the main motivation for continuing to work was the need for additional income.

“Many of today’s retirees consider themselves fully capable of working. And since there is also clear willingness to work, this segment of jobseekers could provide part of the solution to the labor shortage,” says Ahokas.

People over 50 also have strong confidence in their abilities. More than 90% said they approach their work responsibly, are proactive, and are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. Fewer than one in six said they are resistant to change or find it difficult to learn new things in working life.

Expectations vary widely

StaffPoint’s research identified six different worker profiles, four of which placed a strong emphasis on work. These four groups represented 69% of respondents.

In addition to those satisfied with new jobs, the study identified people seeking greater meaning, those highly work-oriented, individuals changing jobs due to health challenges, as well as “relaxers” and “passives,” who no longer seek the challenges of working life.

Diversity challenges leadership

In the future, workplaces will face the challenge of finding diverse solutions to make the best use of different people’s potential. Leadership will become more complex as workplaces increasingly bring together a broader range of generations.

“People over 50 and members of Generation Z have complementary strengths and motivational factors. With good leadership skills, these can be combined to create a successful and diverse work community for all generations,” says Ahokas.

StaffPoint is Finland’s leading HR services company. Within the same group, clients have access to staffing, recruitment, strategic HR solutions, coaching, and work ability services. Our industry expertise is strong. Our clients include both small and large companies, government and other public sector organizations, municipalities, and cities. Our customer recommendation rate is 96.4% (2023). Our services can be scaled globally through our partner Randstad’s networks. StaffPoint employs around 14,000 active workers annually across more than 200 job titles. We operate in 10 locations in Finland and also serve our clients from Mijas, Spain.

Background information about the study

• StaffPoint’s study on working life was conducted as an online survey between July and September 2023, targeting individuals aged 50 and above.
• The research was carried out by nSight Oy.
• A total of 1,245 people aged 50–75 participated.
• Respondents were either active jobseekers, considering changing jobs, or had changed jobs within the past year.
• Of the respondents, 48% were in full-time work, 11% worked part-time, and 32% were unemployed.
• Just under half were aged 50–55, a little over half were 56–65 years old, and 4% were over 66.
• More than half lived in major cities such as the Helsinki metropolitan area, Tampere, Turku, or Oulu.
• 46% of respondents held a higher education degree, and 43% had a vocational or college-level qualification.
• Two-thirds of respondents were women, and one-third were men.

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