Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Finland (Ratification: 1987)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Statistics of employment, unemployment and underemployment. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee welcomes the detailed information provided by the Government in its report on the application of the Convention. The Government indicates that it implements the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) in October 2013, pursuant to the legal provisions governing the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) since 2021, as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and in particular European Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) Nos 2020/256, 2020/257 and 2020/1640, as well as European Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) Nos 2019/2180, 2019/2181, 2019/2240 and 2020/1642. The Committee notes that data on the economically active population, employment, unemployment and visible underemployment has been collected regularly through the EU-LFS, with the latest available data being from 2021. The Committee understands that the population census in Finland is based on register data, and that basic census data is compiled annually and published in the database of the ILO Department of Statistics (ILOSTAT). It notes the Government‘s indication that the status of being “in employment” is derived from information on earned income, which in the Government’s view coincides well with the definition of employment under Resolution I of 2013. Accordingly, the Government has undertaken no further action in this regard. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government with respect to the implementation of ICLS Resolution I adopted by the 19th ICLS in 2013 and invites the Government to continue to provide information in the event of any changes in implementation. It also invites the Government to provide updated information on the effect given to the Resolution concerning statistics on work relationships adopted by the 20th ICLS in 2018, as well as to the Resolution concerning statistics of the informal economy adopted by the 21st ICLS in 2023. Finally, the Committee acknowledges the information provided by the Government with respect to the application of Article 8 of the Convention, which responds to its previous request.

Article 14. Statistics on occupational accidents and injuries and occupational diseases. The Committee notes that no changes appear to have been made in the application of this Article of the Convention and that the ILOSTAT continues to receive the relevant statistics, together with the corresponding metadata for dissemination. It further notes that statistics on occupational accidents and injuries, as well as statistics on occupational diseases, are made publicly available by the Government on the webpages of Statistics Finland and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, respectively. Recalling the decision of the International Labour Conference at its 110th Session in June 2022 to include “a safe and healthy working environment” as a fundamental principle and right at work, the Government is requested to continue to provide detailed updated information and methodological data on the implementation of Article 14 of the Convention.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Government indicates that there is no new information to report with respect to the implementation of this Article of the Convention. The Committee notes that, through the chapter on strikes and lockouts contained in the ILOSTAT annual questionnaire on labour statistics, it receives statistics on industrial disputes, together with the corresponding metadata for dissemination. The latest available data refers to 2021. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information with respect to the implementation of this Article of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Articles 7 and 15 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government and the observations made by the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), included in the Government’s report. It also notes the data and methodological information from the Census Quality Report of Finland. Moreover, statistics collected from the Labour Force Survey on the economically active population, employment and unemployment are published on the Statistics Finland website. The Committee notes that the Government regularly provides the ILO Department of Statistics with statistics on industrial disputes along with the corresponding metadata for dissemination through ILOSTAT, an ILO database. The Committee notes that, in its observations, EK indicates that it is of the view that statistics on industrial action found in ILOSTAT have been rather inadequate, as for certain member States only outdated information is available. EK indicates that it has no complaints in this respect as concerns Finland. EK adds that it is of utmost importance that the ILO maintains up-to-date international statistical information, including information on industrial action. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Government indicates that the population census in Finland is based on register data. Basic census data is compiled annually and published in ILOSTAT. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report received on 23 September 2009 in reply to its previous comments. It also notes with interest the provision of web links to statistical information in relation to this Convention and asks the Government to supply additional information on the following points.

Article 8 of the Convention. According to the Government, the Population Census is nowadays based totally on register-data. Noting that the next population census was to be conducted in 2010, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide the ILO with relevant methodological and data information.

Article 9. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government shares the concern expressed in 1999 by the Central Organization of Finish Trade Unions (SAK) with regard to the lack of consistency in statistics of hours of work, which are published both by the Labour Force Survey and the annual Structure on Earnings Survey. According to the explanations supplied, the differences are partly caused by definitions linked to the specific national practise of shortening working time for those with a 40 hours working week, by granting specific days off instead of cutting regular weekly working time. In addition, in the Structure of Earnings Statistics – planned for making cross-sectional comparisons for hourly and monthly earnings – these days off have been taken into account when measuring monthly working time. The Government further refers to the Labour Force Survey, where weekly working time is defined as the normal working time for one week, for manual workers, usually 40 hours and expresses the view that the increased flexibility in working time arrangements would perhaps call for re-evaluation and specifying of international definitions applied. The Committee notes that according to information available at the ILO, current statistics of average earnings and hours of work cover all important categories of employees, both hourly and monthly paid, in all important branches of economic activity, in both private and public sectors.

The Committee notes with interest that statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work by occupation Article 9(2) are now compiled.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed of any developments in the field of harmonized statistics on working time. It draws to the attention of the Government in this regard to the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (see Resolution I, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, whose larger number of concepts and measures are defined in depth, at: www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/
docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm).

Article 11. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide the ILO with timely updated statistics covered by this provision.

Article 14. Referring to its previous direct request, the Committee notes with interest the detailed references to a wide range of publications in which statistics of occupational injuries and diseases are presented. It also notes the availability of the newest statistics on the Statistics Finland website.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Referring also to its observation, the Committee would welcome additional information relating to the application of the following provisions.

Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to communicate to the ILO, as soon as practicable, the publications relating to the statistics covered by Articles 9 and 10.

Article 6. The Committee asks the Government to communicate to the ILO methodological information relating to the SES for the years 1996 to the present, if it differs from the guidelines followed in the 1995 survey.

Article 14. The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government’s report on the statistics compiled on occupational injuries and diseases. It asks the Government to communicate to the ILO: (a) the publication containing statistics from the LFS ad hoc module 1999; and (b) the publication containing statistics on occupational injuries to farmers (Article 5).

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report containing information which replies in part to its previous comments, as well as the indication that the new Statistics Act was enacted on 23 April 2004. It would be grateful if the Government would send a copy of this Act.

The Committee also notes the observation made by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) on the application of Articles 9 and 11 of the Convention.

Article 9. SAK supplements its 1999 statement and points to the lack of consistency between statistics of hours of work compiled by Statistics Finland on the basis of the labour force survey, and statistics of earnings, which are produced mainly from employers’ surveys. The SAK indicates that cross-tabulations by industry, sector, etc. are problematic. In its opinion, statistics based on weekly and/or annual hours of work (i.e. implicitly, from employers’ surveys) would supplement the present statistics in the way presumed by this Article (paragraph 1).

Considering in this regard that, statistics of hours of work should ideally be compiled at the same time as earnings from the structure of earnings surveys (SES), the Committee refers to its previous comments and once again asks the Government whether it intends to compile and publish statistics of average hours of work (normal hours and hours paid for) and statistics of wage and salary rates, which would be derived from the annual structure of earnings survey and would be compatible with the corresponding earning statistics. The Committee also draws the Government’s attention to the fact that this question, as well as the possible introduction of questions on annual hours of work, should be discussed by all the partners involved in the collection of these statistics, namely Statistics Finland, employers’ and workers’ organizations and the Ministry of Labour.

The Committee also notes that statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work by occupation (paragraph 2), which used to be communicated to the ILO for publication in the October Inquiry, seem to be no longer available. It asks the Government to indicate whether such statistics are still compiled and published and, if so, from which source. It further requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any developments in this field.

Article 11. The SAK emphasizes that the labour cost statistics (LCS) compiled in 1990, 1996 and 2000 are not representative of the economy as a whole since in 2000 they covered less than half of wage and salary earners. The Committee noted previously that the representativity of labour cost statistics in terms of employee coverage has been a constant concern to EUROSTAT and member States for a number of years. It should be noted that it is often more difficult to collect data on labour costs in the services sectors than in the industrial sectors. The revision of the EC Regulations provides for harmonized definitions of LCS and structure of earnings surveys (SES). The Committee is of the opinion that, as a consequence, the results of both the SES and the LCS should gain in representativity.

The Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government concerning certain points.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the Government’s report which replies to the direct request made in 1995, and in particular the information supplied in reply to the previous request concerning Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. It notes with satisfaction the Government’s notification, in conformity with Article 16, paragraph 3, of the acceptance of the obligations of Article 11. The Committee also notes, as it did in its observation of 1999, the comments on the application of the Convention by the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (TT), the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (AKAVA) received with the Government’s report, in particular the comment regarding Article 9 (defective link between statistics of earnings and those of hours of work). The Government has not yet sent its observations about those comments. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide its observations with the next report.

The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the following points:

Article 9.  The Committee notes with interest that since 1995, new statistics on average earnings (Article 9, paragraph 1), derived from the Structure of Earnings Survey (SES), have been compiled and published annually. It notes that these statistics cover all important categories of employees, by sex, and all important branches of economic activity in the private and public sectors, and incorporate the data regularly compiled by the employers’ organizations.

The Committee notes, however, that according to the available information in the ILO, statistics of average weekly hours paid for (Article 9, paragraph 1) and statistics of average wage and salary rates and normal hours of work (Article 9, paragraph 2) appear to have been derived from SES only in 1995, while these statistics continue to be compiled from the Labour Force Survey and the wages inquiries conducted by the Confederation of Employers.

Taking into consideration that ideally, statistics of hours of work should be compiled at the same time as earnings from the SES, the Committee asks the Government whether it intends to compile and publish statistics of average hours of work (normal hours and hours paid for), and statistics of wage and salary rates, which would be derived from the annual Structure of Earnings Survey and be compatible with the corresponding earnings statistics.

The Committee asks the Government to communicate, as soon as practicable, the publications relating to the statistics covered by Article 9 and the methodological information relating to the SES for the years 1996 to 1998, if it differs from the guidelines followed in the 1995 survey, in accordance with Articles 5 and 6.

Article 10.  The Committee notes that according to the Government’s report, statistics on the structure and distribution of earnings and hours of work which follow the EC guidelines are compiled annually through the SES. It asks the Government to communicate the publications relating to these statistics (Article 5).

Article 12.  The Committee asks the Government: (i) to indicate whether representative organisations of employers and workers were consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used for the revised CPI were designed (Article 3); and (ii) to provide the ILO with "Kuluttajahintaindex 1995 = 100 - Käyttäjän Käsikirja" (the consumer price index 1995 = 100, Handbook for users), ISSN 0355-2063 (Article 5).

Article 13.  The Committee asks the Government to communicate the results of the 1996 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey and 1997 Income Distribution Survey to the ILO (Article 5).

Article 14.  The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report regarding the publication of the statistics compiled in pursuance of this Article and the consultation with organizations of employers and workers. It notes the progress that has been made regarding the compilation of statistics on days lost as a result of occupational injuries, which are now communicated regularly to the ILO, in accordance with Article 5.

The Committee further notes that, according to the information available in the ILO, while statistics on fatal occupational diseases are compiled and published separately from those on occupational injuries, it is still not possible to distinguish between non-fatal occupational injuries and occupational diseases in the statistics. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed of any progress made in the future to compile separate statistics on non-fatal occupational injuries and diseases.

The Committee notes that the statistics on occupational injuries and occupational diseases cover virtually all paid employees, but that the self-employed are excluded. It asks the Government to keep it informed of any plans it may have to extend the coverage of the statistics in the future to the self-employed. In this connection, the Committee notes with interest that, according to information available in the ILO, statistics on occupational injuries and diseases were also collected in 1999 via an ad hoc module of questions attached to the Labour Force Survey. It asks the Government to communicate these statistics to the ILO when they are available.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes that the comments on the application of the Convention by the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (TT), the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (AKAVA) were received on 3 November 1999 with the Government's report. It notes in particular that SAK makes specific reference to Article 7 (increase of hidden unemployment and absence of statistics on underemployment), Article 9 (defective link between statistics of earnings and those of hours of work) and Article 10 (non-availability of wage distribution data regarding all sectors) of the Convention. The Committee will examine the details of these comments at its next session together with any observations the Government wishes to make on the points raised, as well as the replies to the direct request made in 1995.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Further to its previous direct request, the Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report, in particular concerning Article 2 (with respect to Articles 9 and 10) of the Convention. It asks the Government to provide further information on the following points.

Point I of the report form. Noting the Government's reference to a proposed general act on official statistics, the Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of this act to the Office when it is enacted.

Article 8. Noting that population censuses have been replaced by administrative register statistics, the Committee requests the Government to communicate to the Office (i) the published statistics thus compiled (in accordance with Article 5), and (ii) methodological information concerning statistics of economically active population derived from this source (in accordance with Article 6).

Articles 9 and 10. The Committee notes the Government's indication that Statistics Finland will, in the near future, discuss further development of the statistical system with the labour market organizations. It asks the Government to report any changes regarding statistics of average earnings and hours of work, in particular as regards (i) the improvement of the compatibility of data in different industries and sectors (Article 9), and (ii) the development of statistics of wage structure and distribution and its expansion to the private sector (Article 10).

Article 14. The Committee notes the Government's indication concerning progress made and problems encountered as to (i) the compilation of separate statistics for occupational injuries and occupational diseases and (ii) collection and compilation of data on workdays lost as a result of occupational injuries. It asks the Government to continue to provide information on further development in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government with its second report, including the comments of the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Salaried Employees in Finland (TVK). The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the following points.

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to supply information concerning the standards and guidelines followed as regards the statistics covered by Articles 9 and 10.

Article 8. The Committee requests the Government, regarding the annual censuses mentioned in the report, to communicate to the ILO the published statistics and information concerning their publication in accordance with Article 5.

Article 9. The Committee requests the Government to communicate its observations on the comments of the SAK and the TVK regarding (i) comparability of data on average hours of work in different industries and (ii) the components of average hourly earnings.

Article 10. The Committee notes the Government's indication that cooperation between the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the Finnish Employers' Confederation (STK) and the Confederation of Commerce Employers (LTK), and data collection by the CSO from non-organized employers, should permit the development of wage statistics in the private sector. It requests the Government to provide further clarification concerning the availability of statistics on the composition and/or distribution of earnings in the private sector. The Committee also requests the Government to communicate its observations on the comments of the SAK and the TVK regarding the compilation of statistics of wage structure and distribution, with particular reference to the point on separate statistics for men and women with a view to studying wage differentials by sex.

Article 14. The Committee notes with interest the Government's indication in its report that it is envisaged to compile separate statistics for occupational injuries and occupational diseases from 1992, and requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in this regard, including, in particular, information on the consultation with the employers' and workers' organizations in accordance with Article 3. The Committee would be grateful to the Government for indicating whether it is planned to collect and compile data on workdays lost as a result of occupational injuries.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government with its first report which arrived too late to be examined at its last session. It also notes the comments of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) concerning the statistics of average hourly earnings which should take account of all the elements constituting remuneration at different places of work. It hopes that the Government will communicate its observations on this matter with its next report. The Committee asks the Government to provide more detailed information on the following points.

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government indicates, for Articles 7 and 12 of the Convention, the standards and guidelines established under the auspices of the ILO that have been followed, but does not do so in detail for the other Articles of the Convention. Please specify the standards and guidelines used. The Committee notes the explanations concerning the departures from the standards and guidelines followed.

Article 3. The Committee notes that the Government does not indicate whether the organisations of employers and workers were consulted in designing or revising the concepts and methodology used in the collection, compilation and publication of the statistics required under Articles 7 and 15. Please indicate whether such consultations were held the last time these questions were examined.

Article 10. The Committee notes from the Government's report that statistics of wage structure and distribution are not available for all workers. Please indicate the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to obtain the statistics required by this Article for the important branches of economic activity that are not covered.

Article 14. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the statistics required by this Article are based on reports of occupational injuries and diseases. However, it would appear from the series sent by the Government to the ILO that these statistics are based on reports of compensated injuries. The Committee asks the Government to indicate, in accordance with the provisions of Article 5, the source of the statistics referred to in this Article.