(cont.) Response to interpellation 2024/25:274 on youth unemployment in Östergötland
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the increasing youth unemployment and the need to jump-start the economy. L argues that the government is conducting a responsible economic policy where falling interest rates are causing economic engines to start 1. L emphasizes that the government is making large investments in vocational training to meet the skills shortage and is implementing reforms to improve the economy 1. S argues that the government is not doing enough to tackle the recession and that investments must be made in schools and an active labor market policy 2. S also emphasizes that they stand up for everyone who can work to work 2. L underlines the importance of a school with higher expectations and clear knowledge requirements 3.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)
Madam Speaker! Thanks to the interpellants for your contributions!
We had a small debate before the break, and the debate on youth unemployment is important because it is a growing problem. We see that unemployment is increasing and that employment is decreasing because we are in a recession. Not least among many of the young people who do not enter the labor market, who do not get a first foothold in society and who cannot support themselves, this is naturally a very big problem. That is why the government is taking many different measures to improve employment and push back unemployment.
Together with the Riksbank, the government has pursued a responsible economic policy which means that we now see interest rates falling, which in turn means that the economic engines will start up. In parallel with this, the government has made large investments in education, not least when it comes to vocational training. During this year, 120,000 Swedes will be able to attend a vocational training program. There are plenty of opportunities to get educated within several of the shortage occupations we see in Swedish society. Point by point, the government is now implementing a number of different reforms to improve the economy, bring down interest rates, and ensure that there are opportunities for Swedes to educate themselves and take the vacant jobs that exist.
Small business owners all around our country - in the Sjuhärad region, in Östergötland, or somewhere else - are crying out for competent labor but cannot find it because far too many leave school without complete grades and because we have had too few vocational educations in Sweden. Now the government is making historically large investments that create very great opportunities for very many people, not least young people.
Eva Lindh (S)
Madam Speaker! We have the highest unemployment in Sweden in ten years. Youth unemployment is the second highest in the entire EU. This government should act.
I am really worried about this generation of young people. Many do not enter the labor market, and when they do enter, it is into jobs with very poor working conditions.
I am also worried about society. We need the young people in the labor market and to contribute to society.
It is also the case that I am worried about the economy. This government is not doing enough to tackle the recession. It is needed, and getting the jobs started is one of the most important measures one can take to also get the economy started.
I have also understood that the Minister for Employment in his last speech usually points out - or he thinks - that the Social Democrats are a contribution party and that the government stands for the work line. Nothing can be more wrong. The Social Democrats are a workers' party. We have been that and will always be that. That does not only mean that we stand up for workers' conditions. We also stand up for, and think, that the most important issue is that everyone who can work should also work. That is why we think that this is important.
What needs to be done is to invest in schools - both in primary schools and in vocational training - and to conduct an active labor market policy and invest what can be done to get Sweden out of the recession. This is not being done, but I nevertheless thank you for the debate today.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Eva Lindh, for the interpellation!
I agree that it is important that we, in broad agreement, do what we can to push back unemployment, get the economy moving, and ensure that Swedish growth increases. A good prerequisite for that is that interest rates are now falling very sharply, very quickly. This will mean that companies will invest and hire, and households will begin to consume to a greater extent. This will push back unemployment.
We need to ensure that more people have the opportunity to receive an education. We also need to ensure that we have a school that has higher expectations of the students, order and discipline, and clear knowledge requirements, where the teachers have the authority to act in the classroom against disruptive students and where those who need more help can get more help. In that way, we can also push back youth unemployment, because school is the most important thing for a young person to be able to support themselves and find a job.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.