June 2025

IZA DP No. 17937: Heterogeneous Effects of a Teacher Strike on Education and Labor Market Outcomes

Henrika Langen, Liisa Laine

We study the impact of a teacher strike on students still in compulsory school and about to choose their secondary education track. Using administrative data and a difference-in-differences approach, we estimate the effect of a regional strike in Finland on educational attainment and long-term labor market outcomes. On average, we find no statistically significant effect on attainment across exposed students. However, students from high-income households were more likely to pursue general education rather than vocational degrees, while those from low-income households shifted away from general education. Despite these differences, both groups experienced modest gains in income and employment later in life.