Life course challenges in crises: transition from higher education to work during COVID-19 in Finland and Sweden

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the daily continuity of young people by causing financial insecurity, remote work/studies, loss of work, loneliness, stress, and unpredictability of the future. This study explores the experiences of pandemic-time graduates from Finland and Sweden in the transition from higher education to work. Finland and Sweden are culturally and socially rather similar Nordic welfare states, and while both utilised different pandemic strategies, education and work were both widely remote in both countries and social mobility limited due to travel restrictions. The data of this study include ten focus group discussions of university students who graduated during the first year of the pandemic. The data is analysed using thematic content analysis, particularly in the context of employability perceptions, professional agency, and financial solutions. The results revealed that the pandemic amplified inequalities and increased concerns regarding job security, with graduates in some disciplines impacted more than others. The findings raise questions regarding post-pandemic labour market trends and career decision making between secure and insecure fields.