The results of Loimu’s 2025 labour market survey show a continued increase in earnings, alongside clear differences between sectors. The average monthly salary among respondents was €4,995, with a median of €4,740.

The private and state sectors offer the highest salaries, both averaging just over €5,000 per month. The gap between them is small, although salaries in the state sector are more evenly distributed. In municipalities, earnings are somewhat lower, while universities continue to lag behind other sectors, with clearly lower average and median salaries.

Most respondents (69%) are in permanent employment, while 17% work on fixed-term contracts. Fixed-term employment remains particularly common in universities, where nearly two thirds of those on temporary contracts are employed. In addition, 12% of respondents are outside traditional employment relationships, including grant-funded researchers, entrepreneurs and those currently unemployed.

Salary growth over the past year has largely been driven by general increases agreed in collective agreements. Among those whose pay had changed, the vast majority reported receiving across-the-board increases, while a smaller share benefited from employer-specific adjustments or performance-based raises. For some, higher pay followed a move to a new role.

At the same time, not all developments have been positive. Just over 100 respondents reported a decrease in salary, most often linked to changing employer.

Performance-related pay schemes cover around a quarter of respondents, but their financial impact remains modest. For about half of those receiving bonuses, the additional pay accounted for less than 5% of their monthly salary.

Text Anna Melkas

Wider Salary Gaps and Longer Job Searches for Recent Graduates

Loimu’s latest labour market survey highlights growing challenges in the transition from studies to working life. While most graduates find roles that fully (65%) or partly (28%) match their field of study, entering the labour market is taking longer than before. Early career paths are also becoming more polarised, with an increasing number starting out in clerical or employee-level positions.

Salary levels vary significantly depending on sector and role. In October 2025, the average salary of recent graduates stood at €3,303. Earnings in the private and state sectors were broadly similar, at around €3,500, while the highest levels were found in municipalities and wellbeing services counties. In contrast, doctoral researchers at universities continue to lag behind, with an average salary of €2,617.

A clear gap also exists between roles: those in employee-level positions earn on average nearly €600 less than those in expert roles. At the same time, salary development is visible, which has led to a slight increase in the recommended starting salary for recent graduates, now set at €3,950.

Despite these improvements, challenges remain. Only 68% of graduates had secured employment after completing their studies, while nearly one in three were still looking for work. The average job search has also lengthened, rising from three months to almost four and a half months.

Text Suvi Liikkanen

Loimu’s annual labour market survey was conducted in 2025 for the first time entirely also in English. A total of 3,348 responses were received, and the respondent profile corresponded well to the overall membership structure.