The speed of change in work life highlights the need for the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health as the organization turns 80

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health media release 22 April 2025

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. A two-day celebration for personnel will start on Monday, 28 April, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Invited guests will join the celebrations at a special evening gala. The event will be organised in Helsinki at Finlandia Hall and Little Finlandia.

Celebrations will also be visible in Finnish work life in many ways. For example, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health will update its scenario on the development of work life. 

– There is an obvious need to update the scenarios published by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health five years ago. At the time of drafting the 'Well-being through work in 2030' scenario report, there was no knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. Over the last few years, new crises have unfolded, and hybrid work has changed work life significantly. The speed of change in work life requires a level of determination from our development work, says Antti Koivula, Director General of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

– Megatrends are adapting and crises catch us by surprise and create new challenges in work life. Fortunately, it is possible to base our response to these challenges on researched knowledge and expertise, Koivula says.

Major transformations must be addressed with effective occupational health care

During the jubilee year, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health considers it particularly necessary and topical to develop occupational health care. This year, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health will update the Good Occupational Health Practice guide to meet the needs of workplaces.

– There are three transformations taking place simultaneously. The transformation of work, the transformation of health and the transformation of the welfare state with all their related challenges require solutions based on research, Koivula says.

– The transformation of work comprises changes at an unprecedented scale, such as the increasing prevalence of hybrid work, the digital green transition, biodiversity loss and the development of artificial intelligence. With regard to the transformation of health, we face challenges related to factors such as work ability and mental health. The transformation of the welfare state has to do with health care services and funding them via growth and productivity, but it also concerns overall safety, Koivula lists.

– Amidst these challenges, only effective occupational health care can ensure the work ability of Finns. Without work ability, the country will not succeed. 

Adapting scenarios to respond to rapid changes

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health published the previous scenario report in late 2020. The well-received report has been downloaded more than 34,000 times. Now it is time to update the scenarios.

The "Direction of work life" series of reports describes what Finnish work life may look like in 2035. To be published in early June, the first four parts will detail the impacts that changes in areas such as technology and demographics have on work life.

The reports will include contributions from researchers on the types of opportunities and threats that can be expected over the next decade — and what measures can be taken to make Finnish work life the best in the world.

History pages remind us of solutions that have changed work life

The predecessor of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the Department of Occupational Diseases of the Helsinki General Hospital, was established on 4 April 1945. The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has been operating under its current name since 1950.

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is an independent public law institution operating under the mandate of the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The 80-year history of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and its highlights are described in the history section of the ttl.fi website. The work of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is as topical and important now as it was in 1945, when the battered country struggled with the challenges of reconstruction and war reparations.

Highlights featured on the history pages demonstrate how the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has managed to react to the continuously changing operating environment over the decades and develop new solutions to support well-being at work and occupational safety.

Read more about our story and the ways in which we have influenced Finnish work life: 80 vuotta | Työterveyslaitos (in Finnish).

Further information

• Director General Antti Koivula, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. 0304742340, antti.koivula@ttl.fi
• Communications Manager Päivi Lehtomurto, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. 050 415 6309, paivi.lehtomurto@ttl.fi