News 10.11.2014
Election statistics, statistics on economic trends and justice statistics off the list of statistics under threat
Based on the feedback from users, Statistics Finland has decided to remove election statistics, certain statistics on economic trends and some justice statistics from the list of statistics under threat presented in September. Clarifications still continue as concerns other statistics under threat.
Decisions based on wide and versatile use of statistics
The resources available to Statistics Finland's activity will decrease considerably in 2015, and it is necessary to cut down our activity. The savings requirement is approximately EUR four million compared with 2014.
The objective is to adjust our activity to reducing resources in such a way that would cause as little inconvenience to data users as possible. In September 2014, we asked our users' views about the effects of the planned measures before making the final decisions.
Based on the feedback, statements and comments and complemented saving and financial impacts, Statistics Finland has decided to remove 11 sets of statistics from the original action list. The decision is based on the wide and versatile use of the statistics in society - in research, teaching, as economic indicators or in describing general economic development. In addition, the decision hinged on the fact that corresponding data are not exhaustively and impartially available from elsewhere.
The production of the following statistics earlier proposed to be discontinued will continue in 2015:
- Turnover of trade: data will continue to be produced monthly.
- Bankruptcies: data will continue to be produced monthly.
- Turnover, service industries: data will continue to be produced monthly.
- Turnover, industry: data will continue to be produced monthly.
- Coercive measures: data will in future be published as part of the statistics on offences known to the police.
- New orders in manufacturing: data will continue to be produced monthly.
- Statistics on labour disputes: data will continue to be produced yearly.
- Enforcement matters: data will continue to be produced yearly.
- Election statistics (Parliamentary elections, European Parliament elections, Presidential elections and Municipal elections): data will continue to be produced in connection with elections.
- Restructuring of debts: data will continue to be produced quarterly.
- Business restructuring proceedings: data will continue to be produced quarterly.
Clarification work will continue with respect to the other statistics listed in the press release of 26 September and information will be given on the decisions as soon as possible. Press release of 26 September 2014
More details about changes concerning individual sets of statistics will be available on the home page of each set of statistics when the release calendar for 2015 is published in December.
Discontinuations and reductions, as well as changes in the financing basis are expected
The savings requirement for 2015 is estimated to be around EUR four million compared with 2014. The entire activity of Statistics Finland is being analysed to cut down costs.
The already made intensification and reduction measures are not sufficient and we cannot avoid reductions in activity and statistics production as well. Our plans include discontinuations of statistics, reductions of data contents of statistics, making some data wholes into chargeable service products and contractions of the publishing activity. Data cannot be made openly available as planned. The possibility of employee co-operation negotiations has not been ruled out.
At the same time, we are looking for alternative financing solutions with which the continuation of statistics production for some statistics could be safeguarded. One possibility would be statistical services implemented with financing from outside Statistics Finland.
Statistics Finland thanks for the feedback given
Statistics Finland wishes to thank all those having commented on the plans. We received over 200 responses and comments. All feedback has been important and helped us direct measures so that users' needs are taken into consideration as well as possible.
The feedback showed that the use of official statistics in society is diverse and large and that the users appreciate the system of official statistics as a producer of reliable and impartial information.
Statistics Finland values active dialogue with our stakeholders and wishes to receive feedback and ideas for development about our activity and services in future as well.
Press release of 26 September 2014
List of statistics
Additional information
Jarmo Hyrkkö, Deputy Director General, tel. +358 29 551 3473
Timo Koskimäki, Deputy Director General of Statistics Production, tel. +358 29 551 3495
Hannele Orjala, Director, Business Statistics, tel. +358 29 551 3582
Leena Storgårds, Director, Economic and Environmental Statistics, tel. +358 29 551 2257
Riitta Harala, Director, Population and Social Statistics, tel. +358 29 551 3604