Neo-entrepreneurs of the social and health care sector in Finland

Recession, crisis of the welfare state, unemployment and a desire to affirm the dignity of one's own professional skills were reasons for the creation of neo-entrepreneurship in the social and health care sector in Finland. A total of 371 private social and health care sector entrepreneurs responded to the survey conducted by the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES). These companies are not attempting to compete with care offered by the local authorities but to offer alternative options. The companies in question were rest homes, sheltered housing units, etc. The social and health care sector entrepreneurs were researched both statistically and descriptively. In the majority of cases the companies were started up by persons who left employment in the public sector out of a desire to set up their own innovative and multidisciplinary service. Some of the entrepreneurs started up on their own while unemployed or under threat of unemployment. The entrepreneurs emphasised autonomy, creativity and the search for professional and psychological growth and satisfaction as their reasons for starting up their own company. They worked longer hours and were paid less than those in similar jobs in the public sector. However, they still considered entrepreneurship the right choice and also recommended it warmly to others.