Units for 24-hour care have lowered their staffing ratios
The minimum staffing ratio stipulated in the Act on Care Services for Older Persons decreased from 0.65 to 0.6 employees per client on 1 January 2025.
Units have reduced their staffing ratios: the proportion of units with a ratio of at least 0.65 decreased significantly (October 2024: 94 %; October 2025: 38%; April 2026: 35%). The change is particularly visible in Päijät-Häme and Western Uusimaa, where a ratio of at least 0.65 remained in fewer than one quarter of the units in April 2026.
Four percent of units for 24-hour care fell below the minimum staffing ratio requirement of 0.6 in April 2026. The share of units below the minimum staffing ratio requirement was highest in Eastern Uusimaa (19%) and South Karelia (11%). The minimum staffing ratio requirement was met in all units in North Karelia, Satakunta, and the Vantaa and Kerava area.
The number of staff in 24-hour care has decreased in all regions
Staff numbers and staff structure are reported annually. The calculated number of staff was 37,671 in October 2025, representing a decrease of seven percent compared with 2024. The decrease was greater in the private sector (–9%) than in the public sector (–6%).
In relative terms, the decrease was greatest in North Savo (–13%) and North Ostrobothnia (–13%), and smallest in Helsinki (–2%). In absolute numbers, the largest reduction was among practical nurses and basic care workers (–1,404; –5%). In relative terms, the largest decreases were among care assistants (–751; –19%) and professionals working in roles other than nursing titles (–627; –20%).
| Share below the minimum staffing ratio requirement (%) | Decrease in staff numbers (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| North Ostrobothnia | 2 | 13 |
| North Savo | 6 | 13 |
| South Ostrobothnia | 5 | 12 |
| South Savo | 2 | 10 |
| Central Finland | 4 | 9 |
| East Uusimaa | 19 | 8 |
| Satakunta | 0 | 8 |
| Ostrobothnia | 3 | 8 |
| North Karelia | 0 | 8 |
| Central Uusimaa | 2 | 7 |
| South Karelia | 11 | 7 |
| West Uusimaa | 1 | 7 |
| Vantaa and Kerava | 0 | 7 |
| mainland Finland | 4 | 7 |
| Kymenlaakso | 2 | 6 |
| Lapland | 9 | 6 |
| Pirkanmaa | 5 | 6 |
| Päijät-Häme | 5 | 6 |
| Central Ostrobothnia | 4 | 6 |
| Southwest Finland | 2 | 5 |
| Kanta-Häme | 7 | 4 |
| Kainuu | 8 | 4 |
| Helsinki | 7 | 2 |
Planned home care service hours were delivered in about half of the units – no change from the previous year
Among units providing home care, 52% delivered at least the number of service hours specified in the client plan to their clients in October 2025. This share is the same as in 2024.
In 32% of the units, 90–99% of the planned service hours were delivered, and the share of these units increased by one percentage point compared with the previous year.
In 17% of the units, less than 90% of the service hours were delivered, and the share of these units remained the same as the year before.
Large regional differences remain in the implementation of planned home care service hours
In South Savo, planned service hours were delivered most often in 2025 (90% of units), and the share in South Savo had increased by 27 percentage points compared with 2024. In Helsinki, planned service hours were delivered least often (14% of units), and the share in Helsinki increased by three percentage points compared with 2024.
The largest increase compared with 2024 occurred in the above-mentioned South Savo, and the largest decrease in Ostrobothnia (23 percentage points). South Savo and Vantaa–Kerava had the smallest share of units where less than 90% of the planned service hours were delivered (3% of units). Kymenlaakso had the largest share of units where less than 90% of the planned service hours were delivered (a total of 41% of units).
Explore the materials
Quality report for the State of Elderly Care Services statistics
Database report: Realised staffing ratios (in Finnish)
Sotkanet indicators on time use and personnel resources in services for older people
Statistical description
The State of Elderly Care Services statistics include information on units providing round-the-clock service housing and home care, staff structure and staffing ratios, the share of direct client work and client time by professional group, and the implementation of planned home care service hours.
Update schedule
The State of Elderly Care Services statistics are updated once a year. The database report Realised staffing ratios is updated twice a year.
