Press release by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Broad-based development project to dismantle segregation in working life

Working life in Finland is strongly divided by gender. This means that many sectors and jobs have a clear majority of either female or male employees. Segregation maintains narrow gender stereotypes, prevents the full utilisation of skills, has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the labour market and is also reflected in the pay gap and, consequently, in pensions.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched a broad-based cooperation project to develop new kinds of tools for improving the situation. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is responsible for the practical implementation of the project. The aim is to reduce segregation in working life and strengthen gender equality among all genders, equal pay and everybody’s actual opportunities of working in their desired field, irrespective of the assumptions and expectations related to gender. 

The project will be carried out regionally in cooperation with the pilot workplaces and other working life actors as well as with schools and educational institutions. To strengthen network cooperation, the project will bring together both the existing networks in the field of work and education and workplaces that are interested in developing their activities into pilot organisations. The aim of this cooperation is to create a permanent model for dismantling segregation. 

The project will also take a look at research literature, gender equality projects and workplaces to find best practices for dismantling segregation. In addition, it will draw up recommendations for political decision-makers on how to dismantle segregation on a more permanent basis. One of the outcomes of the project will be a toolbox designed for workplaces and educational institutions, which will be published on the Gender equality website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The toolbox will be spread widely to workplaces, education and training providers and educational institutions.

The development project Dismantling segregation — tools for a more equal working life will be implemented in 2021–2023, and it is part of the joint Equal Pay Programme of the Government and the central labour market organisations. The project is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government, which includes the commitment to reducing the gender pay gap in a number of ways, for example by dismantling segregation in working life.

Inquiries

Mia Teräsaho, Development Manager, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, [email protected], tel. +358 295 247 864
Milla Sandt, Project Coordinator, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, [email protected], tel. +358 295 163 124