As the working life and the economy change, the contents of work, the demands of skills related to work, and the meanings of work change. In the SWiPE project, we study the following phenomena related to work and economy on a multidisciplinary basis:

The work done on platforms and the platform economy in Finland and internationally

We study how the platform economy as a business model is becoming more common, and how digitalization is changing the possibilities of entrepreneurship and working. We also study those who work on the platforms in different professional groups, from small income earning food delivers to highly trained professionals.

The new meanings of work, self-employment and changes in expert work

We study how the platform economy and digitalization change the existing work in companies and in the public sector, and what kind of new work and entrepreneurship will emerge. As a multidisciplinary research group, we generate comprehensive understanding on the nature of the ongoing complex societal, economic and cultural processes.

The research and education needs of the economy and the society

We study how the platform economy and changes in work manifest themselves as new connections between education and working life, such as enhancement of innovation and entrepreneurship in universities. We review if the education institutions are flexible enough to meet the changing skill requirements and the needs of working life of the future, and how the relationships between education, work and entrepreneurship are being built in the changing working life. The relationships between education and working life are being studied within the context of academic and vocational training.

Immigration and entrepreneurship

We study the pathways of immigrants’ employment. We review what kind of new models platform economy could facilitate to help immigrants to integrate to work and entrepreneurship, and how policy actions support integration.