Tourism and manufacturing sector workers particularly worried about the economic impact of the Ukraine war
An extensive survey has shown that 43% of respondents are concerned how the war in Ukraine and economic sanctions impact their job situation. Workers in the tourism, hotel and restaurant industries and manufacturing, communication and retail sectors were the most concerned.
In its Jäsenpulssi member survey, General Unemployment Fund YTK asked about the impact of the Ukraine war and economic sanctions on its members’ job situation. We survey received more than 20,000 responses.
43% of respondents are concerned about the impact of the war and sanctions on their job situation. Workers in the tourism, hospitality and restaurant industries and manufacturing, marketing and communication and retail sectors were the most concerned.
“I understand people's concerns very well. The tourism, hospitality and restaurant industries are already suffering directly from the suspension of Russian tourism, and the war is hitting the industries more broadly. The manufacturing sector is sensitive to cyclical changes and may face material shortages. On the other hand, the marketing sector is strongly dependent on general economic cycles,” says Auli Hänninen, Managing Director of YTK.
Least concern about the impacts of the war on job situation is in the social services and health, government and municipal and education sector.
“There is a significant labour shortage in the health and social services sector and the education sector, and the war does not reduce demand for these services and may even increase it,” Auli Hänninen adds.
Rising prices, parts shortages and the threat of major war
In the open-ended responses, YTK members expressed particularly concern about the threat of the war escalating, Russia's unpredictable behaviour, nuclear weapons and civilian casualties. In terms of the economy, a recession and rising prices were cause for concern, but many also brought up the direct impacts on their own industry. These included ongoing shortages of components and raw materials.
“A good example illustrating this is one open-ended answer, which listed “the availability of parts and civilian casualties in the war” as causes for concern. In a connected world, wars have a direct impact on our work. At the same time, however, our members' express particular concern about the human distress caused by the war,” says Ilona Kangas, Director of Customer Relations and Communications at YTK.
“I work for an airline. The sanctions will result in lay-offs and dismissals. We’ve already had two rough years with long lay-offs and dismissals. Those of us still here are burdened by the work,” told one respondent.
The Jäsenpulssi member survey was sent by email to all members of YTK. The question asked in the survey was “How concerned are you about the impact of the war in Ukraine and economic sanctions on your job situation?” We received a total of 19,797 responses. The survey was conducted from 4–13 March 2022.
