Statistics Finland invites the alumni to network and defend reliable data

The Alumni network brings together experts who have worked at Statistics Finland over different decades. Many former Statistics Finland employees now occupy key positions in society. Some of them have retired but still continue to monitor and explore social development, the economy and the population in their new roles.

Statistics Finland's Director General Markus Sovala considers the Alumni network an important way of strengthening the expert community formed around official statistics.

“Over the decades, strong experts have moved from Statistics Finland to a wide variety of tasks, both in Finland and abroad. They work for enterprises, research institutes, public administration, organisations and in decision-making. The Alumni network brings together this extensive knowledge and experience and a shared view that society must be developed on the basis of correct data in the future, too,” says Sovala.

Light of Statistics campaign reminds us of the uniqueness of statistics

Statistics Finland also celebrates the European Statistics Day with the Light of Statistics campaign, which is visible particularly on social media. The main message of the campaign is that it is safer to develop society with the help of reliable data. Statistics help form a common situation picture and make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

The campaign also invites everyone to consider the importance statistics have in their life and what kind of light statistics bring to everyday choices and future planning. At the same time, Statistics Finland wants to highlight the importance of long-term and independent data production as the basis for a democratic society.

“Reliable data are easily taken for granted. However, statistics are not born out of nothing; they are based not only on continuous production work but also on long-term development and common, global rules. With the Light of Statistics campaign we want to bring to mind that society needs high-quality and transparently produced data in future as well,” says Mari Ylä-Jarkko, Statistics Finland's Deputy Director General responsible for statistics production.

The European Statistics Day is celebrated on 20 October all over Europe. The purpose of the day is to highlight the importance of official statistics as support for decision-making, research and public debate. Statistics Finland participates in the day with the Light of Statistics campaign, by starting the Alumni network and by launching a new guest post series in the Tieto&trendit online publication.

Contact information

Hanna Ikäheimo
⁠Director of Communications
⁠+358 29 551 3025