The number of new disability pension applications at Finnish earnings-related pension insurer Ilmarinen fell by 8 per cent in 2025, with declines recorded across all age groups.

The largest year-on-year decrease was among 35–44-year-olds, with applications falling by 12 per cent.

In total, Ilmarinen received around 10,500 new disability pension applications during the year, with around 60 per cent of applicants receiving a positive decision.

Of these applications, 56 per cent were submitted by men and 44 per cent by women.

Notably, almost 30 per cent of applicants were aged over 60, with musculoskeletal diseases the most common cause in this group.

Indeed, musculoskeletal disorders overtook mental health conditions as the leading cause of disability pension awards in 2025, accounting for 32 per cent of granted pensions, compared with 29 per cent for mental health disorders.

However, the underlying causes of disability varied significantly by age.

Mental health disorders were the most common reason for disability pensions among those under 55, while musculoskeletal conditions dominated among applicants aged over 55.

Ilmarinen director of work ability, Kristiina Halonen, said that a "notable shift" had taken place.

She noted that depression had long been the single biggest reason for disability retirement, but in 2025, osteoarthritis became the most common diagnosis.

Disability pensions for musculoskeletal disorders were most frequently granted to employees in transport and storage, industry, and construction.

By contrast, the lowest incidence was recorded in the information and communication sector and in accommodation and food services.

Meanwhile, among applicants aged over 60, around 80 per cent received a positive decision.

For this age group, work ability is assessed in relation to their most recent job, while for younger applicants, the assessment considers all work they could reasonably be expected to perform.

Mental health conditions continued to dominate disability pensions among younger people.

In 2025, 80 per cent of disability pensions granted to those under 35 were due to mental health reasons, although around half of applications from this age group were rejected.

The most common reason for rejection was that the illness was deemed too mild to meet the criteria set out in the Employment Pensions Act.

Despite a rise in mental health-related sickness absence in recent years, the number of disability pensions granted to under-35s has fallen since 2019.

However, over a longer timeframe, the number has increased slightly compared with the early 2010s.

According to the Ilmarinen Disability Pension Index, four out of five applicants under 35 were not working at the time of application last year, instead being unemployed, studying or otherwise outside working life.

Halonen warned that mental health problems among young people appeared to be linked less to work-related strain and more to difficulties entering and remaining in employment.

She added that education pathways, unemployment, financial concerns and marginalisation were closely connected, making support during the transition from education to work particularly important.

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