YKA’s Labour Market Survey 2026 – don’t forget to have your say!

Every year, YKA’s Labour Market Study examines our members’ employment situation, salary trends, job roles and the sectors they work in. What does working life look like for social science professionals right now? How has the employment situation developed, what kinds of roles do our members work in, and how are salaries changing?

Working life has undergone significant changes in recent years. Uncertainty in the job market, evolving skills requirements and new demands in working life also affect social science professionals. That’s why it’s more important than ever to have up-to-date information on how our members are doing in the labour market.

Research helps us advocate for you

The Labour Market Study is about much more than facts and figures. Its findings play an important role in YKA’s advocacy work and the services we provide to our members. The survey also offers valuable insight into our members’ everyday working lives.

“We use the findings to shape our advocacy priorities and as a basis for our salary advice services. They also give us a clearer picture of who we, as social science professionals, are in the labour market. The findings have also been used to study the long-term career paths of graduates in our field,” explains Nuutti Pursiainen, YKA’s Chief Negotiator responsible for research.

YKA has been monitoring its members’ labour market situation since 1994. This long history of research helps us identify changes in working life and understand how the labour market for social science professionals is developing.

“2025 was a difficult year for the labour market, and this was also reflected in the open-ended responses to last year’s survey. Some comments expressed a real sense of hopelessness and a lack of confidence in the future. It’s little comfort to point out that the economic downturn and structural changes are understandably affecting those of us in the social sciences too. At the same time, it’s important that we all try to hold on to the belief that the economic situation will eventually improve,” Pursiainen continues.

Every experience matters – including yours

Working life is becoming increasingly diverse, and a survey aimed at YKA’s entire membership simply cannot capture every possible individual situation in detail. What matters most is that as many members as possible take part.

“Sometimes you may need to choose the answer option that best describes your situation, even if it’s not a perfect match, or skip a question that you simply cannot answer. Every response still provides us with valuable information and helps us improve working life and develop our collective bargaining activities,” Pursiainen advises.

The more comprehensive our understanding of our members’ different circumstances, the better we can advocate for the interests of social science professionals in the labour market.

Survey invitations have been sent by email to YKA’s working-age members. You’ll find your personal survey link in your inbox!