Social Science Professionals (Yhteiskunta-alan korkeakoulutetut ry, YKA) is a labour union for employees, graduates and students in public or private sector or NGOs. The association is an affiliate of the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava).
The association safeguards its members’ professional, financial, educational and social interests on the labour market. The association also aims to promote appreciation for the professions represented by its members and the professional identity of its members.
A typical training background for members is a university degree in political or social science, administration, humanities or pedagogics. Our membership already exceeds 14 000, and the number of members is rising steadily.
Work must not burn out the workers. When the conditions of employment are reasonable, leisure time won’t only be about recovery, but instead you can enjoy it fully.
YKA is building a working life for its members that fits life, and also includes breaks and transitions between jobs. Join YKA – let’s build a fairer working life together!
Social Science Professionals have chosen a Social Scientist of the Year since 1999. For 2026, this honorary mention goes to Timo R. Stewart, a researcher and non-fiction author specialising in political history. The choice is made every year by the YKA Board, and this year’s decision was made public at the autumn meeting of the Union Council.
In the Union Council election, held on 28.10–20.11, the members of Social Science Professionals elected a new Union Council for a four-year term. A total of 2,469 YKA members voted in the election. The turnout of voters was higher than in the last election, rising to 17.1 %. The turnout in the 2021 election was 15.4.
In this essay, Ilkka Kärrylä compares labour market institutions and practices in the Nordic countries. Which practices in “the Nordic model” are included in the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government and how do the labour market reforms carried out in Finland differ from Sweden, for example?
Linda Konate (MA) is the Social Scientist of the Year 2025. She has nearly 20 years of experience in humanitarian aid. The need for humanitarian aid is on the rise, while providing it is made harder and harder. For Konate, however, it is not an option to become paralysed by this. She believes action is always an option.
You can find the English course catalog for Social Science Professionals here:
Don’t hesitate to contact us! Please call 010 231 0350 or send us an email (jasenasiat@yka.fi) for more information. If you need legal advice, please contact our lawyers juristit@yka.fi.
