Introduction of new arrivals

In the Budget Bill for 2022, the Government proposes a reinforced jobs policy with new measures so that everyone can participate and take Sweden forward after the pandemic. These measures include providing more people with employment training, counteracting long-term unemployment, giving older jobseekers more time in new start jobs and introducing more unemployed people with disabilities to the working world.

Read about the initiatives contained in the Budget Bill for 2021 relating to the areas of responsibility of the Minister for Gender Equality, with responsibility for anti-discrimination and anti-segregation. The Government’s proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

In the Budget Bill for 2020, the Government presents a package to get more people into work. In all, it is proposed that almost SEK 1.3 billion be allocated to help equip more people for work and for better integration, continued expansion of the Adult Education Initiative and an active business policy. These proposals are based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Listen to Minister for Employment Ylva Johansson talk about her continuing role as Minister for Employment, what challenges she sees ahead and which issue she will be addressing first.

Listen to Åsa Lindhagen, Minister for Gender Equality with responsibility for anti-discrimination and anti-segregation, talk about what changes she wants to see and which issue she will be addressing first.

The Government and the social partners have agreed that ‘entry agreements’ should be introduced. The aim is to help newly arrived immigrants and long-term unemployed people to become established in the labour market, and to facilitate future skills provision for employers.

Media representatives are welcome to take part when EU ministers meet in Södertälje to discuss the role of education and training in challenges facing the labour market. Minister for Upper Secondary School and Adult Education and Training Anna Ekström will host the meeting.

Everyone who can work should work and contribute to our common welfare. This is why, in the autumn budget, the Government is investing in strengthening labour market measures and the integration of new arrivals. The Government is reforming the system of subsidised employment and introducing a new, uniform supportive measure – introductory jobs. The Government is also strengthening efforts for a sustainable working life by establishing a new agency for work environment awareness and allocating funds for the development of methods to combat unfair competition. Moreover, the Government is investing in measures to continue creating a sustainable reception system and ensuring the effective integration of newly arrived immigrants. The paths to employment will be strengthened through a new regulatory framework for Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish public employment service) on the integration of new arrivals and the introduction of an education and training obligation. The Budget Bill for 2018 is based on an agreement between the Government and the Left Party.

The reception of large numbers of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in 2015 involved a considerable undertaking on the part of the municipalities to achieve a good long-term system of reception in which account is taken of children’s rights. Although the number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Sweden has decreased, Sweden will probably receive a large number of unaccompanied girls and boys in coming years too.

In the autumn budget, the Government is investing in an active labour market policy for increased employment, strengthened skills supply in elderly care in particular, and improved unemployment insurance for part-time unemployed people. The Government is also intensifying efforts to better enable new arrivals to quickly become established in working and community life. More investments will be made in early measures for asylum seekers and increased resources for the introduction system. The Government also intends to introduce a new compensation system for the reception of unaccompanied minors and young people. The Budget Bill for 2017 is based on an agreement between the Government and the Left Party.

The Government is mobilising efforts to foster an open and democratic society. Initiatives within the framework of ‘a Sweden that stands together’ were presented in the 2016 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill. This work will continue with additional initiatives for a society with open meeting places, more local cultural activities and an enhanced civil society, as well as measures against discrimination, extremism, threats and hate. A total of SEK 132 million is being committed in the Budget Bill for 2017 and the autumn amending budget for 2016. The initiatives are included in the Budget Bill for 2017 and the autumn amending budget for 2016, which are based on an agreement between the government parties and the Left Party.

On Wednesday 7 September, Minister for Employment and Integration Ylva Johansson will be in the UK to take part in a conference on challenges and opportunities in the area of migration. The conference is being organised by the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society at the University of Oxford.

The Government wants newly arrived immigrants in Sweden to quickly find a workplace that is relevant to the individual’s education and experience. At the same time, there is a shortage of labour in many industries; these are now being helped with the provision of skills through the creation of fast tracks by the Swedish Public Employment Service and the industries, to make it easier for newly arrived immigrants to establish themselves in the labour market.

Today, the OECD presented its report Working Together: Skills and Labour Market Integration of Immigrants and their Children in Sweden on integration in the Swedish labour market and in Swedish society. The report shows that Sweden has a highly developed and sustainable policy for reception and introduction, but that the large number of asylum seekers who arrived in 2015 has created new challenges.

At a press conference on Friday 13 May at Rosenbad, the OECD will present its report on integration in the Swedish labour market, Working Together: Skills and Labour Market Integration of Immigrants and their Children in Sweden. Minister for Employment Ylva Johansson will comment on the OECD report’s assessment and recommendations. Stefano Scarpetta, Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the OECD, will also take part in the press conference.

In the spring amending budget for 2016, the Government is strengthening efforts to enable newly arrived immigrants to quickly and efficiently establish themselves in Sweden. The Government is investing in early measures for asylum seekers and increased funds for county administrative boards to create preparedness and reception capacity in municipalities. The Government is also announcing that trainee jobs will be expanded to also cover newly arrived immigrants and people who are long-term unemployed. The spring amending budget for 2016 is based on an agreement between the Government and the Left Party.

The Ministry of Education and Research and the European Commission organised a two-day seminar on education for newly arrived pupils in compulsory school. Almost 30 people from ten different European countries attended, addressing experiences from all over Europe during the seminar.

Sweden's Government believes that it is particularly important to provide good opportunities for new arrivals to participate in Swedish society. The sports movement offers meeting places for everyone and thereby an arena for integration. The Government is therefore giving SEK 64 million annually to support the sports movement's work with new arrivals in Sweden.

About the Ministry of Employment, published May 2017.

In the worst refugee situation since the Second World War, Sweden has taken greater responsibility than any other country in the west. We are a small country that is making an enormous contribution and the Swedish people are showing great solidarity in a difficult time. We stand up for the international right of asylum.