Finns want the country’s next government to focus above all on improving employment and reducing unemployment. Five in six respondents say the issue should receive more emphasis than it has in recent years.
The findings come from the autumn 2026 Values and Attitudes Survey by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA.
Respondents were asked how the next government should prioritise 34 different policy areas compared with the policies pursued in recent years.
The share of Finns wanting greater emphasis on employment and reducing unemployment has risen by 23 percentage points since a similar survey conducted ahead of the 2023 parliamentary election.
Employment is also the only one of the 34 policy areas where a majority of respondents — 53 per cent — say it should receive much more emphasis.
Economic growth has also risen sharply on the public’s list of priorities. A total of 61 per cent want the next government to place more emphasis on accelerating growth, up 14 percentage points from 2023.
By contrast, the urgency attached to halting the growth of public debt has declined. Some 53 per cent want the next government to give the issue greater priority, down 28 percentage points from the previous parliamentary election, when curbing debt topped Finns’ list of priorities.
– Finns’ economic policy expectations have clearly changed. Three years ago, the main demand was to halt rising debt. Now the focus is on reducing unemployment and generating economic growth, says Ilkka Haavisto, EVA’s research manager and author of the analysis.
According to Haavisto, Finns still want the next government to continue efforts to bring public debt under control, but they are increasingly looking for tangible results on employment and economic growth.
National Coalition Party still leads on growth and debt
The survey also shows changes in how voters perceive Finland’s political parties.
When asked which party promotes curbing public debt most forcefully, 30 per cent name the National Coalition Party. In 2023, the figure was 51 per cent.
The party’s position on economic growth has also weakened. Some 42 per cent now see the National Coalition Party as the strongest advocate of faster economic growth, compared with 60 per cent in 2023.
Despite the declines, the party remains the most frequently named party on both issues.
The Finns Party has meanwhile strengthened its profile as an advocate of cuts in public spending. Its share of mentions has increased from 13 per cent to 24 per cent. The party is also most frequently associated with efforts to combat crime and gang violence and to restrict refugee immigration.
The Left Alliance has overtaken the Greens in five issues related to immigration, development cooperation and the position of minorities.
On employment, the Social Democratic Party is now seen as the most forceful advocate of improving the situation. Ahead of the 2023 election, the National Coalition Party still held a narrow lead over the Social Democrats on the issue.
The findings come as Finland moves towards its next parliamentary election, which will be held on 18 April 2027.
EVA’s survey was based on responses from 2,020 people aged 18–79 living in Finland, excluding Åland. The data were collected by Taloustutkimus through an online panel between 8 and 22 September 2026. The margin of error for the full sample is approximately two to three percentage points in either direction.