More than 20 000 new members joined the YTK in the beginning of the year
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Finland’s largest unemployment fund now has a total of 533 000 members.
The growth in the membership of the YTK Unemployment Fund has continued in the first part of the year, stronger than last year. At this stage of the year, 20 800 members have already joined. In the same period last year, the number of new members was about 1,000 lower.
The average annual number of members of the YTK Unemployment Fund is just over 50 000. The peak year 2020 was an exception, with almost 90 000 new members joining. The net increase in the YTK is around 10 000 members per year, which means that members also switch, retire or become self-employed.
This year, however, the beginning of the year has looked a little different, not least because the increase in membership in February was significantly higher than in many previous years. Similarly, the number of members joining the YTK from certain funds has also appeared to be higher in the first part of the year than in the past.
“Both industrial workers and university graduates have been proportionally more likely to join us than in the past,” says Auli Hänninen, CEO of the YTK.
Growth driven by recommendation and affordability
Unemployment funds have also been in the spotlight in connection with the ongoing strikes, even though they are not parties to them.
“There is a lot of talk about the YTK in the context of the strikes, but the truth is that the growth in our membership is due to something quite different from the labour market turmoil. The secret of our growth is that our members recommend membership to their friends and family because of the good service we provide. This is a fact proven year after year by our member surveys,” Hänninen continues.
When asked, the strengths of the YTK are independence and affordability. Price perception is particularly influenced by the price of full membership of the YTK. “The joint price of the fund and YTK Worklife is 129 € per year, which gives you everything you need in working life and its twists and turns, from membership of the fund to a comprehensive legal service.”