Topical issues

Nearly half of the 55–64-year-old Europeans were outside the labour market in the mid-1990s. Twenty years later, only about one third were in that position. In many countries, the share of early retirees has gone down, but the changes vary greatly from one country to another.

Each year, the Finnish Centre for Pensions grants a Pro Gradu Award to a distinguished Master’s thesis. This year, the award was granted to a thesis from the Tampere University on the 2017 pension reform. In his thesis on public law, the author of the winning thesis Jussi Karhunen examined how lobbying organisations that represent the young affected the 2017 pension reform.

A recent study published by the Finnish Centre for Pensions reveals that the self-employed often both feel that they have and actually have underinsured themselves. The self-employed feel they cannot afford to pay higher contributions and many lack trust in the pension system.

Pocket Statistics includes central statistical data, time series and info-graphics on pensions. The most recent figures date back to year-end 2019.

Workers can again travel between Estonia and Finland, starting on 14 May. Estonian workers can travel to Finland and Finnish workers to Estonia. If you work abroad, you may need an A1 certificate.

Of the self-employed, 57 per cent feel that they pay adequate pension contributions, while 43 per cent feel they have underinsured themselves. A recent study by the Finnish Centre for Pensions shows that the majority of the self-employed pay low contributions in relation to their income.

Last year was exceptionally good for pension investors worldwide. The largest investment returns of nearly 20 per cent were achieved by the Government Pension Fund of Norway (SPU) and the Swedish AP4. Despite an excellent investment year, the return of most actors included in the comparison fell over a 10-year period.

As of 1 May 2020, the new Head of Department of the Register Services Department of the Finnish Centre for Pensions is Sari Alanko (M.Sc.).

All over the world, many regular functions have come to a halt because of the corona epidemic. In Finland, the earnings-related pension system quickly became a considerable part of the crisis management package. Although the measures taken will lead to a temporarily reduced contribution income for pension providers, pensions are paid out as usual. Read …

For the first time, mental disorders surpassed musculoskeletal diseases as the main cause for retirement on a disability pension.  Disability pensions granted for mental disorders increased clearly in 2016. Depression has become a particularly common reason for retirement on a disability pension for women who are young or nearing their retirement age.