Accessibility statement for Statistics Finland's PxWeb databases 

Statistics Finland aims to guarantee the accessibility of its web services in accordance with the Act on the Provision of Digital Services (306/2019).

This accessibility statement applies to Statistics Finland's PxWeb databases.

We have assessed the accessibility of the service ourselves.

The accessibility statement was prepared on 11 September 2020 and it was updated on 6 April 2023.

How accessible are Statistics Finland's PxWeb databases?

Statistics Finland's PxWeb databases are partially compliant with the A and AA level accessibility criteria required by law (WCAG criteria 2.1).

If you need such content that you cannot use because of deficiencies in accessibility, please contact Statistics Finland's information services. Email address of information services is info@stat.fi and telephone number +358 29 551 2220.

What deficiencies are there in the accessibility of Statistics Finland's PxWeb databases?

Statistics Finland's logo at the top of the database functions as a link to the list of databases even though its ALT text claims that the link leads to the front page of Statistics Finland's web service. (WCAG 1.1.1)

In the tables formed by the database, the table heading is marked in in a linked cell in the first row of the table, and it is heard disturbingly in the screen reader when the user moves from one cell to another in the table. The first level heading is missing from the search result page. All semantic notations change on the instructions page. Some tools in the toolbar contain menus where selection box names are not correctly linked to the selection box. The buttons specifying the database search have not been divided into a group. (WCAG 1.3.1)

The selections made on the variable selection page of the table are presented by means of colour only. Colour is the only way to convey meaning in the graphs formed by the database. However, the data can be viewed in table format. The current stage of table creation is presented in blue only. (WCAG 1.4.1) 

When only text is enlarged, the text of some of the buttons shows only the initial part and part of the texts in the table page toolbar go under the table. (WCAG 1.4.4)

In the mobile view, the texts describing the progress phases of the database go partially on top of each other. Long variable names are not fully visible in the selection boxes of variables. (WCAG 1.4.10)

In statistical graphs produced with databases where coloured areas are joined together, the contrast of adjacent colours is not big enough. (WCAG 1.4.11)

There is a skip link to the content, but its destination is rather late on the page and some essential things, such as error messages, may go unnoticed by the user. (WCAG 2.4.1)

Titles say something about the open page but different pages may have the same title, and the users cannot know from the title which PxWeb database they are using. (WCAG 2.4.2) 

The focus order on the pages is otherwise logical but opening the statistics menus on the main page of the database reloads the page and moves the cursor to the start of the page. On the table page before a table there are shortcut buttons for choosing a graph as the presentation format instead of a table, for example. Some of these buttons reload the page without warning and move the cursor to the start of the page. This makes it difficult to use the page with the keyboard. (WCAG 2.4.3, 3.2.2)

Labels have been used in the code wrongly in places, and in some places they include English text on Finnish and Swedish pages or long technical names that sound confusing with the screen reader software. (WCAG 2.4.6)

The variable selection page contains selection boxes, and each box has a label concerning the box that differs from the visible heading of the box. Labels differ from the shown name of the element in the place presenting the stages of database usage and on the presentation page of the table, where downloading of the table or changing of presentation format must be confirmed. Although the names are descriptive, differences may cause problems to the users of assistive devices. (WCAG 2.5.3)

The search function is called “Search” on the level of the whole database but on the variable selection page “Find”.  (WCAG 3.2.4)

On the table selection page some boxes have drop-down menus from which the grouping of variables can be changed. In these drop-down menus, a text resembling a label is technically one of the menu alternatives and there is no actual label in the drop-down menu. (WCAG 3.3.2) 

If the user selects too many values for the table, the table cannot be displayed due to size limitations. The error message is not clearly directed at anything specific, nor does it suggest any correction. The screen reader does not read the message in full. If the selected table is shown truncated on the screen, the error message is not directly attached to the table, and the user using the skip link skips over the message. The same skip link problem occurs in a situation where the graph type selected by the user cannot be shown from the selected data. (WCAG 1.3.3, 3.3.3)

The database code has errors. (WCAG 4.1.1)

Information on all states of the database’s functions is not communicated to the screen reader. The main view of the database has a list that opens and closes, but information is not conveyed about opening or closing. In the editing menu on the presentation page of the table, some technical notes and instructions in English on the Finnish and Swedish pages are audible to screen reader user. On the selection page of the table the search button for the search function in the selection boxes is made as a link. It may be confusing for the user. (WCAG 4.1.2)

The PxWeb system is developed in cooperation with Nordic statistical institutes. Some of the deficiencies will be corrected in connection with the next version update. The accessibility of the databases will be further improved. 

Did you notice any other deficiencies in accessibility?

If you notice any deficiencies in the accessibility of Statistics Finland's PxWeb databases that are not listed on this page, please let us know about it. We will do our best to correct the deficiencies.

You can give us feedback with our feedback form or by email at saavutettavuus@stat.fi. If you want to give feedback by telephone, call Statistics Finland's information services, tel. +358 29 551 2220.

We will respond to your feedback as soon as possible or within two weeks at the latest.

Accessibility supervision at the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland

If you notice accessibility problems on the website, start by giving feedback to us, that is, the website administrator. It may take up to 14 days before you receive a response.

If you are not satisfied with the response from us or if you do not receive any response within two weeks, you may file a report with the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland. The agency website has detailed instructions (in Finnish and Swedish only) on how to file a complaint and how the issue will be processed.

Supervision authority’s contact information

Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland
Accessibility supervision unit
Accessibility requirements web service (in Finnish and Swedish only)
saavutettavuus(at)avi.fi
telephone number (switchboard) +358 295 016 000