Families with children in Helsinki live in more segregated conditions than other Helsinki residents, especially when the situation is examined through socioeconomic factors such as parents’ education level, income and employment. Furthermore, the segregation between non-native and native language speakers is also more pronounced amongst families with children, and this form of segregation has increased. Therefore, Helsinki’s segregation trends affect children, young people and their families in particular.
These findings are presented in a recent publication by the City of Helsinki, which examines the growing disparities in the wellbeing of children, young people and families in light of current research data.
Segregation development studied in Helsinki for the first time from the perspective of families with children
The new compilation publication examines Helsinki’s segregation trends for the first time from the perspective of disparities in the wellbeing of children, young people and families.
According to the research findings, families with children in Helsinki are doing well, on average, and by many measures even better than other Helsinki households. However, at the same time, the differences between families are substantial. Most children and young people are also doing well, but there are several worrying signs of declining wellbeing and increasing disparity.
Financial difficulties as a dividing line in wellbeing
The income level of families with children in Helsinki is, on average, higher than the national average, but a large number of children – around 14,000 – still live in low-income families. One third of children in Helsinki with a foreign background live in low-income families, compared to only six per cent of those with a Finnish background. Low income is also more common than average in single-parent families and families with multiple children.
Financial difficulties are linked to lower perceived wellbeing amongst parents. In Helsinki, nearly one in five parents of families with children experience significant psychological strain, and amongst those facing financial hardship about one third feel such strain.
The wellbeing of children and young people reflects differences in the wellbeing of families. The better a young person perceives their family’s financial situation to be, the more likely they are to be satisfied with their life and to perceive their health as better.
The cost of housing affects migration and segregation
In Helsinki, family migration is selective based on the parents’ socioeconomic status, which may further intensify segregation in the future. This selectivity in migration is linked to differences in housing costs between areas: the cost of housing affects the ability of families with children to settle in different neighbourhoods. Area-specific differences in owner-occupied housing are particularly significant in Helsinki.
Children’s and young people’s deficits in wellbeing and functional capacity, as well as fewer hobby activities and lack of higher education, accumulate in areas where the concentration of residents in a poorer socio-economic position is higher than average. The segregation of wellbeing is also reflected in the varying area-specific service needs.