Authors

• SOSTE Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health

Keywords

covid-19, elderly, employment services, health services, incentives, social inequality, social security, social security benefits, social services, social welfare, social work, well-being (health)

Abstract

The sociobarometer is a wide-ranging survey charting expert opinion on the welfare of Finnish citizens and the present state of welfare services in Finland. The 2020 sociobarometer charted issues such as services for older people, basic security, employment services and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on social and health services. Respondents included healthcare managers and social workers at municipalities and joint municipal authorities, directors of operational units at Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland) and managers of local employment and economic development offices (TE Offices).

One of the themes of the survey was the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on services and support needs. Respondents were asked, among other things, which groups of people in the region are particularly concerned, how the needs of clients have been met and how services have been developed during the pandemic. In particular, they asked about the impact of the pandemic on the service needs of older people and the support targeted at them.

Another broader theme was employment, basic security and income support. For example, the survey explored how the service needs of people getting the basic social assistance and other groups were met before, during and after the pandemic. It also asked how employment had been improved in different regions. Respondents were also asked to rate different statements related to the increase in inequality.

Background variables included the respondent's sector of work, the size of the area of activity and the major region. For respondents from TE Offices, the data also include a regional variable at the level of the province.