The Teachers’ Occupational Wellbeing Study

The study examines the development of teachers’ occupational wellbeing and the factors influencing it using a comprehensive survey questionnaire. Attention is also given to demographic aspects, such as regional differences and variation across educational levels. The data, collected biannually, allows for the examination of both general trends (cross-sectional data) and individual-level changes over time (longitudinal study).

The study began in spring 2020, with data collected biannually since then. The collection of longitudinal data started in spring 2024. The survey data has been gathered in close collaboration with the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ), and the dataset consists of responses from its members.

Number of survey respondents by time point:

• Spring 2020: 1 182 participants
• Autumn 2020: 1 502 participants
• Spring 2021: 1 336 participants
• Autumn 2021: 1 046 participants
• Spring 2022: 476 participants
• Autumn 2022: 687 participants
• Spring 2023: 1 628 participants
• Autumn 2023: 1 396 participants
• Spring 2024: 1 488 participants
• Autumn 2024: 1 821 participants
• Spring 2025: 1 863 participants
• Autumn 2025: 964 participants (Note: Only those participating in the longitudinal panel)
• Spring 2026: 1594 participants

Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for the Teachers’ Occupational Wellbeing Study.

This research has been funded by the Strategic Research Council (2021-2024) and by the Research Council of Finland (2024-)

Heinimäki, O-P., Toyama, H., Upadyaya, K. & Salmela-Aro, K. (2026). Satisfied or frustrated? Basic psychological needs profiles and their associations with work-related outcomes among teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education. Volume 170, February 2026.

Heinimäki, O.-P., Melkko, S., Vinni-Laakso, J. & Hietajärvi, L. (2024). Opettajien työhyvin­vointikysely valottaa opettajien työhyvinvoinnin kehitystä. Blogi, OAJ, 9.2.2024.

Mankki, V., Heinimäki, O.-P., Tarnanen, M., Hietajärvi, L., & Poikkeus, A.-M. (2026). Opettajien minäpystyvyys kelpoisuuden ulkopuolisessa opetuksessa. Kasvatus, 57(2), 241-246.

Mäkinen J, Upadyaya K, Hietajärvi L (2026), "Social resources, work demands and workplace commitment among Finnish school principals and teachers". International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 40 No. 8 pp. 58–74

Salmela-Aro, K., Upadyaya, K. & Hietajärvi, L. (2021). Rehtorien ja opettajien hyvinvoin­ti koronapandemian aikana. Työn Tuuli, 1, 14–19.

Salmela-Aro, K., Upadyaya, K., Ronkainen, I. & Hietajärvi, L. (2022). Opettajien työn imu ja työuupumus koronapandemian aikana. Kasvatus, 53(5), 498–512.

Salmela-Aro, K. & Lavonen, J. (2024). The switch to distance teaching and learning in Finland during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) went technically well but was emotionally challenging. Teoksessa F. Reimers (toim.), Schools and society during the COVID-19 pandemic: How education systems changed and the road ahead (s. 63–85). Springer.

Salmela-Aro, K., Upadyaya, K. & Hietajärvi, L. (2020). Suomalaisten rehtoreiden ja opet­tajien työhyvinvointiprofiilit koronakeväänä. Psykologia, 55(6), 426–449.

Upadyaya, K., Heinimäki, O-P., Pöysä, S., Hietajärvi, L., & Salmela-Aro, K. Opettajien työhyvinvointi ja siitä huolehtiminen. Teoksessa M-K. Lerkkanen, K. Salmela-Aro, & M. Vauras (toim.), Koulun resilienssi (s. 190-215). Santalahti.