Statistical interviewers

Statistics Finland employs a total of around 80 statistical interviewers all around Finland. The work is independent remote work in which interviews are conducted by telephone from home. Web responding is a central part of the implementation of data collections and thus motivating respondents to respond online is an important part of the work.

In addition to actual interviewing, the work includes ascertaining contact information for target persons and monitoring of web responses. In addition to interview work, some interviewers collect price data from retail outlets for the Consumer Price Index. In data collections from enterprises, interviewers collect such data from enterprises that are not available from an existing register.

What is the work of a statistical interviewer like?

The work of an interviewer is people-centred and interesting, varying and demanding. The work is also quite independent – the work must be planned so that the interviews can be completed by the set time.

Many kinds of people can be encountered in interview work. Although most people feel positive about Statistics Finland's surveys, sometimes the interviewee must be convinced that the survey is necessary before the interview can be conducted. In such cases the interviewer explains to the respondent the importance of the survey and responding to it. Much is demanded from interviewers: flexible behaviour, tenacity, independence, systematic planning and organisational skills.

Why are interview surveys carried out?

Statistics Finland is a government agency that collects and produces reliable information on the life, work, economy and society of Finns. The collected data are used to support decision-making, research and social debate.

Data are collected from various sources and some of the data can be obtained only by asking people personally.

Statistical interviewers are needed to collect these data. Many types of data are collected from people, such as
How do Finns live? How do people spend their money, how do they spend their holidays, how do they travel to work?
In what conditions do Finns work? How many are out of a job? How many open job vacancies are there?
What do people think about Finland's economy?

The data collected by statistical interviewers are used to produce the Labour Force Survey, the Consumer Confidence Survey, the Finnish Travel Survey, the Household Budget Survey, the Consumer Price Index, and the Survey on income and living conditions, for example.

Statistics Finland's data collections from enterprises are based on the Statistics Act according to which enterprises must provide Statistics Finland with certain data needed for the compilation of statistics. The statistics are used for monitoring the economy, employment, business activity and price development, for example.

Statistics Finland does not conduct commercial surveys or political party polls.

Training

People of different ages from various fields apply for interviewer jobs. Those selected to interviewer positions receive sound basic training including self-studying, preliminary tasks and basic training of a few days held in Helsinki. Training also includes guidance on how to use the necessary software. Practice makes good interviewers.

In order to maintain and develop professional competence, interviewers are regularly provided with additional training and continuing training in connection with topical surveys.

Interviews are conducted in Finnish, Swedish and English, but other language skills can be useful, for example when explaining the importance of an interview to respondents in their native language.

Working hours

The work of a statistical interviewer is part-time work and the amount of work varies. Working hours are affected by the time period, the number of ongoing data collections and also the interviewer's own wishes. Working hours are at least 12 hours and at most 38 hours 15 minutes per week. Weekly working hours are usually 12 to 30 hours. There is usually less work in summer. The work is mostly done in the evenings.

Statistical interviewers can plan their own work shifts fairly freely within the given time limits and instructions.

Pay and terms of employment

An hourly pay is paid for the work of a statistical interviewer, consisting of a basic pay and a personal supplement. The typical monthly earnings of a statistical interviewer before taxes vary between EUR 1,000 and 2,000. Earnings may be somewhat lower at the start of the employment relationship.

Statistics Finland acquires the tools needed for the interviewers: telephone, mobile telephone subscription, handsfree headset, computer and wireless data connection.

The interviewers have paid annual leave determined in accordance with the Annual Holidays Act and agreement. The interviewers are covered by Statistics Finland's occupational health care.

Application

We always announce the tasks open for application on the Valtiolle.fi
website. We hope that you apply for our posts primarily via the
Valtiolle.fi website.

Take a look at our open tasks (valtiolle.fi)See the applicant's instructions Submit an open application

Application process

Statistical interviewers are selected based on job application forms and personal video interviews. Each person selected is expected to take part in basic training for new statistical interviewers, which is held partly in Helsinki and partly remotely. Wages and travel costs are paid during the interviewer course. Work starts immediately after the course.

Do work that matters

The responses of the interviews are used for statistics and surveys on the basis of which important social decisions are made.

Therefore, the work carried out by the interviewer is very significant in society.