Knowledge work often overflows across boundaries – education sector sees highest pressure at work

Press release of The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health 29.9.2025

When the accumulated pressure at work at Finnish workplaces was examined, the work pressure was the highest among those working in the education sector. They experienced the highest work pressure if their work culture was not perceived as communal. In this group, as many as 67 per cent experienced high pressure at work.

The accumulation of pressure in knowledge work was influenced by many factors – most notably, the profession in question, being in a manager position, the working culture, the person's career orientation, and gender.

– The results provide interesting insight into how pressure at work is intertwined with structural and workplace-level factors, in particular, but also with individual motivational factors, summarises Minna Toivanen, Senior Specialist at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

The Locating the Essential project charted the pressure at work and overflowing of work experienced by knowledge workers in Finnish workplaces in a European context. It also studied the links between pressure at work and various individual, organizational and structural factors.

Essentialization helps limit work and reduce stress

The project provided an overview of the overflowing of knowledge work and the needs and opportunities for managing the boundaries of work.

Essentialization helps limit work and manage boundaries. This means locating work tasks that are central to one's job description or that are not appropriate for the job description, and identifying any tasks that may be missing from the job description.

– Essentialization helps clarify the core of the work and build a path towards these core areas. As a result, work is smoother and less stressful, says Kirsi Yli-Kaitala, Senior Specialist at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

The 'Five Steps to the Essential' guide produced in the project is a concrete tool to support the development of work. The exercises in the guide can be used to outline the key factors for the purpose and objectives of work and to identify what can be removed.

Individual means alone are not sufficient to limit work – changes in the organization and working culture are required, as well

In the study, autonomy was seen as a factor protecting against pressure at work. Individual factors, such as conscious decisions and courage, made it easier to limit work.

Additionally, concrete work arrangements, such as remote work opportunities and flexible working hours, and support from the work community also helped limit work and reduce the pressure.

– However, there are many factors behind the pressure of knowledge work, overflow of work, and management of boundaries, that cannot be solved alone. For this reason, organizational and cultural changes are needed to support drawing boundaries, Toivanen emphasises.

More information

• Minna Toivanen, Senior Specialist, +358 43 824 4506, minna.toivanen@ttl.fi
• Kirsi Yli-Kaitala, Senior Specialist, +358 43 824 8585, kirsi.yli-kaitala@ttl.fi

Learn more about the study

• The study is based on the Locating the Essential project of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
• The project produced a free guide to essentialising work: 'Five Steps to the Essential' guide (in Finnish): Olennaista – 5 askelta sujuvampaan työhön -opas
• Final report: https://www.julkari.fi/handle/10024/152111
• The project is funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund.