Topical issues

Paid work is the main basis for pension accrual, but most people in Finland also accrue pension while receiving social security benefits. Pension accrued from these benefits is particularly important for people on low incomes.

Pension policy is often expected to solve problems that originate elsewhere in society or the economy. In his keynote address at the ETK-INPeR research seminar, Yves Stevens described this as “smuggling”.

Farmers use family leave more often and for longer periods than other self-employed persons and employees. This is evident in a register-based study that examined farmers’ use of parental leave and child home care allowance in 2019–2024.

Earnings-related pension accrues differently at different ages because earnings generally increase as people get older. On average, a person in their fifties accrues around twice as much earnings-related pension in a year as a 25-year-old. Your pension record shows how much pension you have accrued and helps you understand what your future pension may be. The amount of your pension depends on your earnings and the length of your working life.

Around 90 per cent of people who have claimed a partial old-age pension are satisfied with their choice. The most common reasons for claiming the pension are its financial profitability and the claimants’ uncertainty about their health and remaining life expectancy. In the first large-scale survey of its kind, the Finnish Centre for Pensions examined the experiences of people who had claimed a partial old-age pension.

Population ageing and changing labour markets are putting increasing pressure on pension systems across Europe and beyond. In response, many countries have moved towards multi-pillar pension systems with an increasing role for funded pension schemes. Welcome to the seminar on Thursday, 10 September 2026, from 13:30 to 15:30 (CEST) / 14:30 to 16:30 (EEST) at the Finnish Centre for Pensions, Kalasatama, Helsinki. The seminar will be in English, and you can also participate via Teams.

The financing outlook for earnings-related pensions has improved following Finland’s pension reform. At the same time, the future contribution rate under the Employees Pensions Act (TyEL) has become more uncertain, according to the Finnish Centre for Pensions’ new long-term projections.

Two thirds of Finns oppose cuts to current or future pensions as a way to improve pension funding. Half of respondents to the Finnish Centre for Pensions’ most recent Pension Barometer say they trust the pension system.

This year’s recipient of the Finnish Centre for Pensions’ Pro Gradu Award is Zamzam Elmi, a Master of Social Sciences graduate. Elmi’s Master’s thesis examines how pension insurance professionals view the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the assessment of disability pensions in Finland. Each year, the Finnish Centre for Pensions awards the prize to an outstanding Master’s thesis on a pension-related topic.

For many people, a monthly pension of around €900 makes everyday life easier. The partial old-age pension also allows people to reduce their working hours in the final years of their career without a major drop in income.