‘The growth in our membership was strong during 2023. Our membership now has a total of more than 623,000 members. We are particularly pleased with the increase in our student membership, since we have really worked hard to correspond to the issues encountered by students and young people. We actively co-operate with Akava students and our affiliates to ensure that we are supporting students and new graduates and drawing attention to their viewpoints and concerns. We aim to make sure that they have the proper prerequisites for studies, the shift to working life and a sustainable career’, states Maria Löfgren, President of Akava.
‘Akava’s work has made a genuine impact. There is a real need and demand for our services and working life support networks’, Löfgren adds.
‘The membership development of Akava affiliates in 2023 was positive, but the number of paying members decreased by about 2,500, which was exceptional. However, this change can be clearly explained: two of our affiliates have partially eliminated student membership fees, so their overall number of paying members dropped as a result. This change unifies the practices for student membership within the Akava community. Without this change, the number of paying members would have increased by 1,730’, explains Jaana Ignatius, Development Manager.
The majority of Akava’s members work in the private sector
With regard to the members of Akava’s affiliates, a total of 55.5% are employed in the private sector, 21.4% by municipalities, 9.3% by the State and 9.1% by the wellbeing services counties. Self-employed professionals represent 3.3% of Akava’s membership, those in the service of the parishes 1.0% and those employed by other employers 0.3%.
The Board of Akava confirmed the number of members at its meeting on 27 February 2024. More detailed information can be found at https://akava.fi/en/affiliates/
More information
Maria Löfgren, President of Akava, tel. +358 (0)40 568 2798
Jaana Ignatius, Development Manager, tel. +358 (0)40 700 2225