DIGI CITIZEN
Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA)
In terms of services from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA) that our family have recently used, we have received the Kela cards for each family member. I renewed these cards recently after they were all lost together when my wallet went missing. Additionally, we applied for disability support for our child due to celiac disease, which helps cover the costs related to a special diet.
As working parents, other KELA services relevant to our family with three children include:
- Child Benefits – Monthly support for families with children to help with basic costs.
- Parental Benefits – If applicable, KELA provides maternity, paternity, and parental allowances which we have used over the years.
- Health Insurance Reimbursements – KELA partially reimburses certain healthcare expenses, such as prescription medicines. I have three children, two of whom have asthma, and one has celiac disease, which means we rely on KELA’s disability support and medical expense reimbursements to help manage these ongoing health needs.
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – This card ensures that family members receive necessary healthcare when traveling within the EU/EEA countries. Since we spend summers abroad, we already have European health insurance cards.
- School Transport Subsidy – We have also received Kela taxi services when our child needed medical care and transportation for treatment.
These are the KELA services that our family has used. This was eye-opening to realize just how good our system is and how much support our family has received from society, even though we are both working parents.
Service/application
Työmarkkinatori, a digital platform offered by TE Services, is an innovative tool designed to connect job seekers with employers in Finland. The platform is continuously developed to improve the matching process in the labor market, aiming to become an effective meeting point for both job seekers and employers. Given its potential to streamline recruitment and address mismatches in the job market, Työmarkkinatori is a relevant and valuable resource in the employment sector.
Reasons for Choosing Työmarkkinatori
The primary reason for choosing Työmarkkinatori is its commitment to addressing one of the key challenges in the employment field: the matching of job seekers with suitable employers. This platform represents a shift towards a more modern, data-driven approach to recruitment. Työmarkkinatori integrates digital tools that help job seekers display their skills and qualifications, while also offering employers targeted search options. The platform’s development is geared toward optimizing the user experience for both parties, making it an exciting example of digital transformation in public employment services.
User Experience: Strengths and Weaknesses
From a Job Seeker’s Perspective
For job seekers, Työmarkkinatori offers several advantages. The profile creation system is intuitive and allows users to highlight their skills, experience, and professional interests, which enhances their visibility to potential employers. The platform also uses algorithms to suggest job opportunities tailored to the individual’s profile, making the job search more targeted and efficient.
However, a major weakness of the platform is that many job seekers do not fully utilize the profile function, often leaving their profiles incomplete or unpublished. This lack of engagement hinders the platform’s ability to function effectively, as incomplete profiles reduce the chances of accurate matching with employers. According to network effect theories, digital services like Työmarkkinatori require active user participation to thrive. Without enough complete, public profiles, the platform lacks the data needed to refine its matching algorithms, which impacts its success as a job-matching tool.
From an Employer’s Perspective
For employers, Työmarkkinatori offers valuable tools to search for candidates based on specific criteria, such as skills, experience, and availability. This feature has the potential to make the hiring process more efficient by providing access to a wider range of candidates and offering suggestions that align with the requirements of open positions. In theory, Työmarkkinatori could save employers time and resources compared to private recruitment channels.
However, feedback from employers indicates a lack of trust in TE Services’ ability to find suitable candidates. Many employers prefer to pay private recruitment companies, believing these services yield better results. This mistrust poses a significant challenge for Työmarkkinatori and TE Services, which must work to build positive recognition and credibility among employers. For the platform to function optimally, both job seekers and employers need to actively use it. Only then can the matching process reach its full potential.
To address this issue, TE Services must invest in building the platform’s reputation and demonstrating that Työmarkkinatori can indeed connect employers with qualified candidates. Establishing this trust is critical to encouraging employer participation, which in turn will improve the platform’s effectiveness for everyone involved.
Digitalization and digital gap
This topic is one of my favorites and is deeply connected to my work as a service developer. While we are rapidly advancing digital services, a portion of the population remains unable to benefit from these innovations. In the worst cases, these individuals are excluded not only from digital services but also from essential areas of societal participation. The swift pace of digitalization brings both opportunities and risks, especially for those who are left behind in this transition. In Finland—and specifically in Vantaa—this digital gap is a significant challenge, impacting diverse groups and resulting in broader social and economic consequences.
Digitalization in Finland has changed how people access services and information, but the shift to virtual platforms risks excluding certain groups, creating a “digital gap.” In Vantaa, this gap affects elderly individuals, immigrants, low-income families, people with disabilities, and socially isolated individuals, all of whom face unique barriers to accessing digital services. This exclusion can lead to social isolation, lack of access to essential services, and increased inequality. The reliance on algorithms for information and service access may deepen these inequalities, with digitally literate individuals receiving more targeted content, while others, lacking these skills, may face misinformation risks.
From a socio-digital perspective, the digital gap affects not only personal access to services but also the broader fabric of community and social inclusion. Without digital access, individuals miss vital social connections and peer networks, which are increasingly facilitated online. For example, many social and community services now rely on digital platforms for interaction, leaving those without access isolated from crucial support systems and social interaction opportunities. This socio-digital exclusion can lead to a downward spiral, impacting mental health and overall well-being.
The digital gap also limits civic engagement, as those without digital tools miss participating in local initiatives and democratic processes. For Vantaa, this means allocating significant resources to maintain alternative service access for those excluded from digital services, which complicates the efficient use of public resources.
Addressing this gap requires targeted initiatives in digital literacy, accessible platform design, community support networks, and robust data privacy protections. By incorporating a socio-digital approach, Vantaa can work to ensure that all residents have equitable access to digital and social services, fostering a more inclusive digital society that strengthens social equity and community well-being for everyone.
My thoughts and self-reflection
This course deepened my understanding of the intersection between social and digital worlds and how service design can address the challenges of the digital divide. I learned that creating inclusive, accessible solutions is essential for ensuring equitable participation in digital services, particularly for those at risk of exclusion. This aligns with my work in designing user-centric service models that consider both technological and social dimensions.
Exploring topics like Työmarkkinatori and KELA’s services highlighted the importance of trust, user engagement, and accessibility in building impactful digital platforms. I also gained a critical perspective on how algorithm-driven systems can exacerbate inequality and how thoughtful design can mitigate these risks.
Overall, this course provided valuable insights and tools that I can directly apply to my work in service development, particularly in promoting social equity and ensuring that digital solutions are accessible to all.
I commented on:
Hi, absolutely loved this.
“From a socio-digital perspective, the digital gap affects not only personal access to services but also the broader fabric of community and social inclusion. Without digital access, individuals miss vital social connections and peer networks, which are increasingly facilitated online. For example, many social and community services now rely on digital platforms for interaction, leaving those without access isolated from crucial support systems and social interaction opportunities. This socio-digital exclusion can lead to a downward spiral, impacting mental health and overall well-being.”
Well written post, great job.
Hi, thank you for your comment. The digital divide has also significant impact on democracy. Unequal access to the internet and digital tools creates gaps in access to information, education, and participation in decision-making. People without digital access are unable to fully engage in online civic activities, which weakens democratic processes. Furthermore, the concentration of digital power in the hands of a few large tech companies can shape which viewpoints are amplified, distorting public debate and decision-making. This divide also deepens social inequality, as those without digital skills or internet access are excluded from essential information and services. Closing the digital divide is essential for strengthening democracy and ensuring equal participation opportunities for all citizens.
Hello Mia,
I find your blog article very striking as it pinpoints various challenges of digitalization with razor-sharp precision. It was quite interesting to learn about your experiences about digital citizenship, especially regarding the digital gap. I believe it is rather obvious that not engaging with digital technologies will lead to significant disadvantages. But you elaborated on the very important fact this is an exclusive process, separating society along social borders. I believe that it will be crucial to establish inclusive structures to prevent this from happening.
Thank you for your insights.
Best regards,
Dominik
Hei Mia,
First of all, I could relate to many points in this blog post. I too have had the need to re-apply KELA-cards for my children when the cards have been lost. The service is very handy and the cards arrive quickly. Sometimes the old cards have been found when the new ones already arrive. The other issues mentioned in this blog are very relevant and things that many of us Finns and our relatives, especially elder people experience. The world is so very different from the days our parents or grandparents were in their working age, and in my opinion, when digitalisation started booming, there should have been more citizen support and guidance provided to avoid the gaps in user capability we have today. It is also a fact that not all citizens can or need to be able to use the digital services themselves, but still the services need to be there to them with help from others. From an individual and human point of view, I still think that back in the days when elderly people needed to interact with service people, it kept them active and energetic. There is a lot of good in the digitalisation, but human contact can not be replaced when using services. Thank you for your good, interesting and clear post!
Hello!
I agree with you that the digital divide can make it harder for some people to take part in society. Without internet or digital tools, they might miss out on education, services, and even having a voice in decisions.
I also liked your point about big tech companies. It’s true that they have a lot of power in shaping public discussions, which can create unfairness. In my opinion It’s so important to give everyone equal access to technology and help people learn how to use it.
Hello,
Thank you for sharing your reflection. it is thoughtful and clear. You provided good personal examples, such as how your family makes use of KELA services and how Työmarkkinatori helps employers and job seekers. You did a good job with explaining the digital gap, particularly how it affects Vantaa residents like the elderly and immigrants. It shows your concern for justice and supporting people. I also appreciated how you applied what you had learned in the course to your own job. You showed that it is important for service design to be inclusive and easy to use for everyone.
https://blogi.savonia.fi/masoumehsaeid/