Finnish Public Sector study (FPS)

The FPS study was originally started in 1997 and is officially called Psychosocial Factors and Health: the Finnish Public Sector (FPS) study. The study has been approved by the HUS Regional Committee on Medical Research Ethics (HUS/1210/2016). The ethical statement was last updated on 16 March 2023 due to the new research organisations created by the health and social services reform.

The study covers six cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants and their five neighbouring cities: Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Raisio, Nokia, Valkeakoski, Naantali and Virrat. The study started in 1997. Helsinki participated in the study for the first time in 2014.

The target group includes all of the about 90,000 permanent employees and long-term substitutes employed by the participating municipalities. The study is conducted every other year from September to October. Next round is in 2024. Are you a study participant? More information here

The research data to date include: 

• surveys in 1997, 2000–2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022.
• a record of personnel and sickness absences.

The results of the project can be viewed on the Work-Life Knowledge service:

Between 1998 and 2021, the study included the hospital districts of Kanta-Häme, Vaasa, Pirkanmaa, Southwest Finland and North Ostrobothnia, Jorvi Hospital, the Welfare District of Forssa and the Jakobstad Department of Social Services and Health Care. The target group size has varied according to the participating organisations. In recent years, it has been approximately 13,000 employees.

As a result of the health and social services reform, as of 2023 the organisations participating in the survey consist of wellbeing services counties, for which the survey is carried out every other year from September to October. The study now includes the wellbeing services counties of Pirkanmaa, Ostrobothnia, Kanta-Häme, Vantaa-Kerava and Western Uusimaa.

The target group of the study includes all of the approximately 46,000 employees of the aforementioned wellbeing services counties. Are you one of them? More information is available here 

The research data to date include: 

• surveys in 1998, 2000–2002, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013–2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 ja 2021
• a record of personnel, working times and sickness absences.

Key results will be communicated to all organizations participating in the study and their personnel at the work unit level. The study results are used for improving personnel well-being and quality of work life.

The study produces data of national significance. It is the country's largest and longest-standing survey of municipal and well-being sector personnel and it covers nearly 30% of municipal and well-being sector employees. 

Follow-up plays an important role in the development of the public sector as a whole. After the repeated surveys, it is possible to assess the changes in municipal work and work life quality better as well as their impact on personnel well-being and health.