UTH in a nutshell
What is the Survey on work and well-being among people of foreign origin (UTH)?
The UTH Survey is so far the most extensive Finnish population study to focus on people of foreign origin.
The survey results will be used in developing measures to promote the integration and employment of people of foreign origin. The results can be used to improve social and health services. The data generated in the survey will be unique, covering a wide range of topics, including health, well-being, living conditions, functional capacity, and work ability among the target population.
Who will be invited to take part in the survey?
A total of 6000 people of foreign origin, aged between 15 and 64 years, were randomly selected for the survey.
The sample selection is based on the definition of people of foreign origin, which draws on a classification used by statistics authorities in Finland and the other Nordic countries. According to this classification, people of foreign origin mean persons whose parents (or the only known parent) were born outside Finland and who themselves are born in or outside Finland and are citizens of Finland or of some other country.
Why is this survey important?
Although Finland is increasingly multicultural, there are no comprehensive data on the health, well-being, and living conditions of people of foreign origin, covering all language groups and people living outside major cities.
Surveys on the well-being and living conditions of the overall Finnish population have not produced usable data on people of foreign origin, because the number of people of foreign origin included in the samples has been too small and their level of participation in the surveys too low.
In extensive population studies the response rate of vulnerable groups tends to be low. These groups include people with disabilities, unemployed people, people without language skills, and people with little education. Elsewhere in Europe population-based studies indicate that people of foreign origin have poorer health and well-being than overall population.
How will the survey be conducted?
The survey will be carried out as face-to-face interviews. The persons chosen for the survey will, first, receive by post an invitation letter. Then, an interviewer from Statistics Finland will contact them by phone and arrange the time, place and language of the interview.
The languages available are Finnish, Swedish, English, Estonian, Chinese, French, Thai, Sorani Kurdish, Arabic, Persian, Russian, and Somali. The interview will take about an hour.
What will be asked in the interview?
The survey questionnaire is based on earlier comprehensive population studies conducted by Statistics Finland, THL, and TTL.
The Statistics Finland's Labour force survey focuses on the employment situation as well as on barriers to and conditions for employment (such as language skills and education and training).
Labour force survey
The Regional Health and Well-being Study (ATH), carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), covers health, well-being, life quality, social inclusion, experiences of violence, work ability, functional capacity, lifestyles, and service needs.
Regional Health and Well-being Study (ATH)
The Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu) contributes with data contents on discrimination and traumatic experiences.
Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu)
The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (TTL) contributes with questions dealing with the importance of work, workplace attitudes towards people of foreign origin, as well as support provided by colleagues and managers.
