A study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland shows that long-term unemployed individuals perceive their capabilities as weaker than the general Finnish population. Capabilities refer to the opportunities to achieve important things in life, such as health and well-being. Additionally, the study found that long-term unemployed men perceive their capabilities as weaker than long-term unemployed women.

According to Professor of Social Work Timo Toikko, this observed gender variation highlights the need for tailored support strategies.

“Understanding these differences is crucial, as it allows us to develop more effective measures to promote the health and well-being of the long-term unemployed, taking into account the specific needs of both men and women,” Professor Toikko notes.

The study modelled the Capability Approach among long-term unemployed respondents (persons out of work for at least a year) and tested whether resources transform into capabilities through various personal, social and environmental factors.

The study was conducted in collaboration between Doctoral Researcher Tiina Ahonen, Professor Tomi Mäki-Opas and Professor Timo Toikko at the University of Eastern Finland, and Professor Antti Kouvo at the University of Turku.

The study found that social and environmental factors can play a crucial role in transforming resources into capabilities. “The opportunities for long-term unemployed individuals are limited, and their resources – practically, the sufficiency of money – transform into opportunities to achieve well-being and health particularly through their immediate environment and social networks,” Ahonen emphasises.

The study examined long-term unemployed individuals' experiences of their resources, capabilities and the factors associated with them.

“By focusing on the subjective perceptions of this marginalised group, it is possible to gain a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms through which experience of well-being arise. The results show a complex interplay of resources, conversion factors and capabilities among vulnerable citizens. On the other hand, the study provides such information about these mechanisms that would not be possible to achieve with conventional population data,” Professor Antti Kouvo notes.

Professor Tomi Mäki-Opas points out that from a welfare policy perspective, the capabilities of the long-term unemployed should be promoted:

“More comprehensive employment benefits and targeted actions that pay particular attention to the social and environmental dimensions of unemployment are needed to address the differentiated needs of the long-term unemployed. Currently, Finnish employment policies and practices may be too narrow and disregard the importance of capabilities.”

The study used quantitative methods such as cross-tabulation, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling to analyse cross-sectional data. The data, collected in 2016, includes 511 Finnish long-term unemployed individuals aged 20–64. The data were gathered as part of the PROMEQ project (Inclusive Promotion of Health and Wellbeing), funded by the Strategic Research Council within the Research Council of Finland, conducted from 2016 to 2019. The secondary data used in the study involved a sample of 2,190 individuals representing the general Finnish population.

Research article:

Ahonen Tiina, Mäki-Opas Tomi, Kouvo Antti & Toikko Timo: Investigating the Capability Approach: How Long-Term Unemployed People in Finland Perceive Their Access to Commodities, Conversion Factors and Capabilities. Social Indicators Research (2025). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-025-03519-8