Quality description 2019–2020: Statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are produced by Kela. Kela is mandated by its governing Act to produce statistics, projections and estimates. The statistics are funded annually out of the individual budget of Kela.
1 Relevance of statistical information
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment present a general picture of the basic economic security that Kela provides for unemployed persons. They also cover unemployment benefits provided by Kela paid out during participation in employment-promoting measures, job alternation compensations, and commuting and relocation allowances. The statistics are produced on the basis of Kela’s statistical register on unemployment-related benefits.
Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) looks after basic security for unemployed persons resident in Finland. The aim is to secure a minimum level of income during unemployment. The earnings-related unemployment benefits are administrated by the unemployment funds.
Information is collected about the following statistical units: benefit recipients, days covered and benefits paid. The following classifications are used in the statistics: type of benefit, basis of eligibility (benefit paid during unemployment or during participation in employment-promoting services), type of compensation (full benefit, adjusted benefit, etc.), duration of unemployment, occupation, general regional classifications, and general demographic classifications.
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are aimed at decision-makers, policy planners, researchers, organisations and professionals active in social security.
Feedback from users is collected and used for the further development of the statistics. The contents of the statistics and the usability of the data are evaluated in cooperation with various experts.
2 Accuracy and reliability of data
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are based on macrodata files on unemployment benefits.
These statistics are compiled from individual-level statistical registers. They are produced from the benefit system for unemployment benefits, which includes all of the data created and processed during the implementation of the benefit scheme. The registers include everyone who was paid a Kela unemployment benefit during a particular period. Recipients at the end of a month include all unemployed persons who were paid an unemployment benefit as of that day.
The monetary data values presented in the statistics are matched monthly and yearly to accounting records.
Any errors detected are corrected immediately in accordance with the release guidelines issued by the Advisory Board of the Official Statistics of Finland. Any errors discovered in the online service are corrected and the erroneous information is removed.
3 Timeliness and promptness of data
Data are made available in the Kelasto statistical database within four weeks of the end of the reference period.
The statistics are released in cooperation with FIN-FSA, which is in charge of compiling statistics on earnings-related unemployment benefits. Monthly statistics on unemployment benefits in Finland are released during the month following the reference month, and annual statistics on unemployment protection in Finland are released in the autumn following the reference year. More exact publication dates for statistical publications can be found in the publication calendar.
The statistics published are final.
4 Coherence and comparability of data
Statistics on unemployment benefits provided by Kela are available from 1985 (the first year in which Kela paid unemployment benefits). In 1994, the labour market subsidy was introduced and the criteria for the payment of the basic unemployment allowance were amended. In 2010 the basic unemployment allowance became payable not only during unemployment but also during participation in employment-promoting services. Training subsidy and training allowance were discontinued as standalone benefits at that same time. In 2013, the means testing rules for the labour market subsidy were modified to exclude spousal income. The labour market subsidy paid in the form of integration assistance for immigrants was discontinued in 2015. Payments continued in the form of the regular labour market subsidy.
Commonly applied regional and occupational classifications are used in the statistics.
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are comparable to the corresponding statistics compiled by the unemployment funds on the earnings-related unemployment benefits.
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment only cover part of the unemployment benefits paid in Finland, that is, the basic unemployment protection. The earnings-related unemployment benefits are covered by the statistics compiled by the Financial Supervisory Authority on the benefits paid by the unemployment funds to their members. Together these statistics comprise the Statistics on unemployment protection in Finland.
5 Accessibility and clarity of data
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are released in the Kelasto statistical database.
The data underlying the statistics may be released to government authorities and to researchers. Requests for individuel-level data should be addressed to tietopyynnot@kela.fi, and requests for statistical information to tilastot@kela.fi.
Quality description 2017–2018: Statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment
- Relevance of statistical information
- Accuracy and reliability of data
- Timeliness and promptness of data
- Coherence and comparability of data
- Accessibility and clarity of data
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are compiled by the Statistics and Data Warehousing Section of Kela’s Information and Communications Unit. Kela is mandated by its governing Act to produce statistics, projections and estimates. According to Kela’s rules of procedure, the Information and Communications Unit is responsible for compiling statistics related to the social security system administrated by Kela and the implementation of benefit schemes.
The statistics are funded annually out of the individual budget of Kela.
Relevance of statistical information
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment present a general picture of the basic economic security that Kela provides for unemployed persons. They also cover unemployment benefits provided by Kela during participation in employment-promoting measures, job alternation compensations, and commuting and relocation allowances. The statistics are produced on the basis of the statistical registers for the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment.
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are aimed at decision-makers, policy planners, researchers, organisations and professionals in the social security sector.
Kela looks after basic security for unemployed persons resident in Finland. The aim is to secure a minimum level of income during unemployment. The earnings-related unemployment benefits are administrated by the unemployment funds.
Information is collected about the following statistical units: benefit recipients, days covered and benefits paid. The following classifications are used in the statistics: type of benefit, basis of eligibility (benefit paid during unemployment or during participation in employment-promoting services), type of compensation (full benefit, adjusted benefit, etc.), duration of unemployment, occupation, general regional classifications, and general demographic classifications.
Feedback from users is collected and used for the further development of the statistics. The contents of the statistics and the usability of the data are evaluated for instance by the statistics cooperation group for unemployment benefits provided by Kela.
Accuracy and reliability of data
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are based on complete datasets of the unemployment benefits paid.
These statistics are compiled from individual-level statistics registers. They are produced from the benefit system for unemployment benefits, which includes all of the data created and processed during the implementation of the benefit scheme. The registers include everyone who received an unemployment benefit from Kela during a particular period. Recipients at the end of a certain month include all unemployed persons who were in receipt of some unemployment benefit as of that day.
The monetary data values presented in the statistics are matched monthly and yearly to accounting records.
Any errors detected are corrected immediately in accordance with the release guidelines issued by the Advisory Board of the Official Statistics of Finland. Any errors discovered in the online service are corrected and the erroneous information is removed.
Timeliness and promptness of data
Published monthly and annually. Monthly statistics are published in the month following the reference month. Annual statistics are released jointly with the Financial Supervisory Authority in the autumn of the following year. Temporal cross-section data are published subsequent to the publication of other data: the number of recipients at the end of the month is released about 4 months after the end of the month. Publication dates can be found in the release calendar.
The statistics published are final.
Coherence and comparability of data
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are available from 1985 (the first year in which Kela paid unemployment benefits). In 1994, the labour market subsidy was introduced and the criteria for the payment of the basic unemployment allowance were amended. In 2010, the basic unemployment allowance became payable not only during unemployment but also during participation in employment-promoting services. Training subsidy and training allowance were discontinued as standalone benefits at that same time. In 2013, the means-testing rules for the labour market subsidy were modified to exclude spousal income. The labour market subsidy paid in the form of integration assistance for immigrants was discontinued in 2015. Payments continued in the form of the regular labour market subsidy. Several other minor legislative changes have been made, and they are described in Kela's Statistical Yearbook (supplement).
Commonly applied regional and occupational classifications are used in the statistics.
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are comparable to the corresponding statistics compiled by the unemployment funds on the earnings-related unemployment benefits.
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment only cover part of the unemployment benefits paid in Finland, that is, the basic unemployment protection. The earnings-related unemployment benefits are covered by the statistics compiled by the Financial Supervisory Authority on the benefits paid by the unemployment funds to their members. Together these statistics comprise the Statistics on unemployment protection in Finland.
Accessibility and clarity of data
The statistics on the benefits paid by Kela in respect of unemployment are published online.
Inquiries concerning the external use of the underlying data should be directed to Kela’s Statistics and Data Warehousing Section. Their contact information can be found on the description page of the statistics.