Suomen Ekonomit examines the salaries of its members annually. The information is based on survey data collected in November 2021. Salaries increased as follows: 

In the Helsinki economic area:
median income EUR 5,683 per month
+3.3% compared to the previous year

In the rest of the country:
median income EUR 4,800 per month
+2.1% compared to the previous year

In the private sector
median income EUR 5,450 per month
+2.8% compared to the previous year

In the government sector
median income EUR 4,850 per month
+3.8% compared to the previous year

In the municipal sector
median income EUR 4,878 per month
+3.8% compared to the previous year

Nearly 70 per cent of respondents said that their salary had increased in 2021. By far the most significant reason for a salary increase was the general increase in accordance with the collective agreement. Subsequently, the most common reasons were an increase based on individual performance, a new position or task in the current workplace and a change to a new job. 

“The general increase is important for business school graduates because it seems to be a key driver of salary increases. That is precisely why collective agreements are important,” says Riku Salokannel, Labour Market Director. 

Weekly working hours of business school graduates 

Business school graduates in full-time employment work an average of 41 hours per week. What is worrying is that 10% of those work 46 hours or more per week. 

“Fortunately, the number of working hours has not increased, but instead has stabilised around 41 hours. Those in managerial positions work the longest weekly hours. However, it should be remembered that directors also need time for recovery,” says Juha Oksanen, Research Manager. 

Respondents seem to enjoy their work: 85% are either very or quite satisfied with their work. 

The popularity of remote work is solid 

Remote work is remarkably common among business school graduates. One-third of respondents work completely remotely, one-third go to the workplace once or twice a week and slightly fewer than one-third go to the workplace 3–4 days a week. Only 6% do not work remotely at all. 

Although there has been public discussion about the disadvantages of remote work, business school graduates have embraced this arrangement. More than half of respondents are very satisfied with remote work and almost all the rest are quite satisfied. Only 4% are dissatisfied. 

Seven out of ten business school graduates think that work and leisure are well or fairly well balanced in their lives. One-third do not have a good work-life balance. 

Respondents think that well-being at work could be promoted by improving interaction in the workplace, developing working methods and tools and clarifying the goals of the organisation. 

Facts about the salary level survey: 

• 3,120 respondents 
• Provides a cross-section of the salary level of the members of Suomen Ekonomit 
• The survey asked about the income of those in full-time employment in October 2021 (incl. fringe benefits) 
• 50% of respondents were experts, 19% middle management representatives and 24% in managerial positions 
• The average weekly working hours of respondents was 40.8 hours 
• 59% of respondents were women and 41% men 
• The average number of years of work experience of respondents was 15.6 years