The National Audit Office's report on the transition of short-term trained job seekers to regular education

Magnus Persson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to begin by moving for the approval of the proposals in the report.

A well-functioning employment service is of central importance for the functioning of the labor market, among other things by contributing to the matching that is necessary to shorten job seekers' time in unemployment.

The National Audit Office's report highlights that many short-term educated job seekers face significant obstacles when it comes to taking the step into regular education. These individuals often face challenges such as a lack of guidance, financial difficulties, and social barriers that can make it difficult to start or complete an education.

Madam Speaker! When it comes to the government's management of Arbetsförmedlingen regarding measures to increase the participation of short-educated job seekers in regular education, we can conclude from the audit that it has been unclear, partly because the assignments in the regulatory letter have varied over time and because the investments for the short-educated have sometimes not reached the correct target group. The criticism from the Swedish National Audit Office is therefore partially justified.

The important thing, however, is to remember that many of these problems are problems that have been inherited from previous governments, which simply have not had the grip on Arbetsförmedlingen that they should have.

Madam Speaker! The committee notes that the government has taken several measures in light of the Swedish National Audit Office's observations and review, which we in the Sweden Democrats welcome and also mention in our special statement in the matter. Furthermore, the government has also announced measures to, among other things, improve Arbetsförmedlingen's control conditions, Madam Speaker. This shows that the government is engaging in and taking the problems in the issue seriously. It has been decisive for the Sweden Democrats' choice not to submit a follow-up motion during today's item.

We are, of course, following the developments closely and will return in other contexts if further measures are required to improve the management of Arbetsförmedlingen regarding job seekers who are in need of education.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for your speech, Magnus Persson!

I must just say that it is a bit strange that we stand here with the highest unemployment in decades and that the chairman of the Committee on Employment does not mention it with a word. He also does not say anything about the situation on the labor market.

The Swedish National Audit Office's report on the transition of short-trained job seekers to regular education

We have increasing unemployment, and we have increasing notices of layoffs. In this situation, one can state that the Sweden Democrats are involved in removing the study start support and lowering the unemployment insurance - measures that the Social Democrats consider strike directly against those who are already struggling. Since I have the opportunity, I must ask the question how Magnus Persson views the possibility for the long-term unemployed, young people, or persons with short education to get a chance when SD is involved in cutting back on the resources that give young people with short education the opportunity to get a job.

Madam Speaker! I am not surprised, but it is, as said, deeply worrying that the person responsible for labor market policy, Magnus Persson, does not address these challenges and the structural problems. Instead, we can observe that he blames very much on the previous government and on Arbetsförmedlingen. Now that one has had the opportunity to govern together with the government for two years, I would still have expected a bit more from the committee chairman. I would have expected him to say something about the situation on the labor market, the situation at Arbetsförmedlingen, and about choosing to remove opportunities and tools for those people who need it most today.

I would therefore very much like to hear the committee chairman say something about this.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Persson (SD)

Madam Speaker! It is not that we are debating today, but today we are debating a petition. But of course I can mention a few words about it; it is no problem.

The study start support is an issue that lies within the Education Committee. I choose not to address it, as it is prepared and handled in the Education Committee. That issue is for them to handle.

When it comes to the high unemployment, everyone knows that we have a recession in Sweden right now. When it comes to long-term unemployment, we know that it is due to the fact that we have an imported unemployment in Sweden through the enormously large immigration to Sweden for which the Social Democrats are largely responsible, and now that we have a recession, the problems are showing themselves.

During an economic boom, one can hide people in a mass of labor market measures, and then it is not visible. Then the question is not discussed. But now there are no companies that can accept people in, for example, labor market measures and so on. The unions say no to the new establishment services, for example. They say: We do not accept [them] at the workplaces - we strike people, and then we do not accept people. It is therefore the trade unions that are saying no to it, which is very easy to find out.

When it comes to Arbetsförmedlingen: Finally, there is starting to be some governance in this agency, which has not existed previously. The Social Democrats' solution has always been to say "Do whatever you want!" and shovel in more money. They have not set requirements for the agency. Now we are setting requirements on what Arbetsförmedlingen shall do and not do, and it is yielding good results. In the committee most recently, we listened to the director-general on how they will work moving forward.

During the Socialdemokraternas time in power, it was simply not the case that any demands were placed on Arbetsförmedlingen at all. That was what contributed to it becoming the most unpopular agency in all of Sweden - the one that had the lowest trust of all. It was because no demands were placed on the agency, but now we are changing that.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer. It was an interesting answer, actually – everything is the Social Democrats' fault, everything is the authority's fault, and the Sweden Democrats do not intend to take any responsibility. Everything is also the immigrants' fault; we have too many immigrants.

Let us state, Madam Speaker, that we have 360,000 unemployed today. The government itself says that unemployment is the highest in decades if we disregard the pandemic. Yesterday, Northvolt announced that they are laying off over 800 workers. Already earlier, they laid off over 300. It is not quite an answer to blame immigrants. Now people are being laid off. We have construction workers being laid off, and we have construction companies going bankrupt.

I expected the Sweden Democrats to take responsibility – they have, after all, been involved in governing the labor market policy for two years – and point out how the Sweden Democrats intend to act to ensure that the 360,000 people who are unemployed today, regardless of background, receive support and interventions. What the Sweden Democrats are doing is removing an educational opportunity for very many, namely the short-term study support. That question Magnus Persson refers to another committee. They are lowering the unemployment insurance and worsening the conditions for people who will become unemployed, which the Sweden Democrats before the election quite solemnly promised they would not do.

The question remains: What do the Sweden Democrats intend to do for all those people who are waiting for measures and interventions now that the possibilities for short-term study support are being removed and the unemployment insurance is being lowered? Do not shift the responsibility to anyone else, Magnus Persson – you are the chairman of the Committee on Employment and you are involved in steering the labor market policy! I would very much like to hear how you view these cuts in the labor market policy and how you intend to act to ensure that all these unemployed people can feel a certain security that they are given the opportunity for support.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Persson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I shall update Serkan Köse: I am not involved in governing the labor market policy, because the labor market policy is not negotiated within the Tidö agreement. I wish it had been so, for then significantly more would probably have happened.

We do, however, see that the government is investing significantly more in, for example, vocational training. We see how cooperation with companies and municipalities is to be increased to provide training on-site at the companies, which we consider to be very important.

Then one must see the whole picture: We have a recession. Now Northvolt is being highlighted here, and yes, it is an investment that collapsed. Many flagged that it would not hold, and it absolutely did not. Regarding the green transition, we now see that LKAB is withdrawing enormous investments, which was reported today. They simply do not believe in it. We see – Serkan Köse did not mention it – that Husqvarna is laying off 400 people today, due to digitalization and because production is being moved to other places. Quite a lot is happening, and the easy jobs are no longer there. It is only to be regretted.

I believe, however, that we can turn this around. But the high unemployment figures are due to the previously conducted policy. Today we have very many long-term unemployed who, due to a recession, are moved even further away from the labor market. They will continue to be a problem to get into the labor market. Previous governments have turned a blind eye to these people and how to get them into employment. They have shoveled them into measures, but now those measures are not available because the companies do not have the possibility to meet the demand. That is what it is about, and then one must look at other solutions.

I actually think that the government is looking at other solutions, such as streamlining agencies and so on—that whole part—instead of just shuffling people around in measures that generate nothing. We see, for example, in the Social Democrats' budget that they are raising extra services. They want them back as an important labor market measure. But everyone knows that they are only utilized in Social Democrat-led municipalities, where they are misused to hide people in the statistics. So we do not want that.

This government and the Sweden Democrats want to be clear and open about the problems that exist. We are not trying to hide them.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Madam Speaker! I must nevertheless say that the situation on the Swedish labor market is worrying. It is actually a bit sad that we are only three registered speakers for a debate on such an important issue. I wanted to begin by underlining this. It is even sadder that no one from the Liberals is here, given that they are involved in governing the labor market policy and lead the Ministry of Employment. I still want it said, Madam Speaker.

Initially, I would like to move for the approval of our reservations in the report, Madam Speaker.

One of the most fundamental principles for us Social Democrats is that everyone who can work shall work. We believe in a labor market where everyone, regardless of background, gets the opportunity to contribute and support themselves, but for this to become a reality, people must be given the tools and the education required for them to succeed.

It is here that the National Audit Office's report highlights a serious problem: Only 30 percent of those with short-term education who are assigned to regular education begin their studies. This clearly shows that the system is not functioning as it should.

Madam Speaker! We Social Democrats believe that those who are judged to need training to become employable should undergo training. The National Audit Office considers that the accuracy of the instructions must be improved. That is a view we Social Democrats share.

Arbetsförmedlingen needs to take greater responsibility to better match individuals to the right educations, with a focus on the shortage occupations that exist on the labor market today. It is not just about sending people to educations but also about ensuring that these educations actually suit the individual's specific circumstances and needs. Furthermore, the support for the unemployed to enter into an education must be expanded.

Madam Speaker! The Government has presented a proposal to phase out the study start support. Unlike the Government and the Sweden Democrats, we instead want to reform the study start support and make it accessible to more people. If the current limit of six months of unemployment is lowered – just as we did during the pandemic – more people can start studying faster and thus have a shorter period of unemployment. This is about giving people the tools they need to return to the labor market, not about making it harder for them.

Madam Speaker! Many with short education and long-term unemployed feel uncertainty about starting studies, and here the Arbetsförmedlingen has a key role. The agency must provide clear information about what livelihood options exist, for example, study start support and CSN loans. Through better guidance, more can dare to take the step towards education and improve their chances of getting a job.

But what is the government doing? Instead of strengthening the tools that help people get into work, we see that the government is going in the opposite direction. We often hear representatives for the right-wing parties talk about the work line, but have they

Really understood what is required to make it something more than just a slogan? It feels as if the right has dusted off an old LP record from the Alliance's days - the same rhetoric spins over and over again, and it is just as empty of content now as it was then. Instead of making the work line a real tool to help people into work, they have time and again cut resources to Arbetsförmedlingen and the active labor market policy. The right's work line is full of words but empty of action.

Madam Speaker! The situation on the Swedish labor market is worrying, if not alarming. Today we have 360,000 people who are unemployed. Apart from the pandemic, it is the highest unemployment in ten years, according to the government. Sweden's unemployment insurance funds' latest figures show that almost 150,000 people now receive compensation from the unemployment insurance fund. This is an increase of 34 percent compared to the same period last year. So far this year, 5.6 billion kronor have been paid out from the unemployment insurance fund, which is an increase of 43 percent. These record-high payments clearly show how serious the situation is on the Swedish labor market.

What is the government's answer then? Well, despite this, the government, with the support of the Sweden Democrats, chooses to introduce a sharp tapering of the unemployment insurance after 100 days. This is a hard blow to the unemployed, especially to those who have difficulty quickly returning to the labor market. This change risks creating even greater economic insecurity for the unemployed, while at the same time it does not address the structural problems we have today in the Swedish labor market.

Madam Speaker! The Fiscal Policy Council has also warned against this policy. They have pointed out that cuts to unemployment benefits risk leading to increased economic inequality. The Council emphasizes that the labor market's challenges require long-term investments in education and matching efforts rather than cuts to the safety nets. We recognize this from previous right-wing governments – they punish those who are already in a difficult situation instead of giving people the tools and the support they need to return to the labor market.

This problem becomes even clearer when we look at the developments within the industrial and construction sectors. At the same time as unemployment rises, we see a worrying trend with an increasing number of bankruptcies and layoffs. During 2024, the number of bankruptcies has increased for nine consecutive months, and the number of layoffs continues to rise. Despite this, the government remains passive and does not act. The list of government bills is empty so far, Madam Speaker.

What is the government doing then? Well, they are cutting back on active labor market policy measures, which we believe are more important now than ever.

Every time the right has had the opportunity to govern, they have systematically eroded the labor market policy and left those who need the labor market policy most. Until now, their solution has been to continue with large tax cuts for those who earn the most. They believe somewhere that tax cuts automatically generate more jobs, but the harsh reality is that even the Fiscal Policy Council criticizes this policy. The Council has warned that the government's focus on tax cuts – especially for high-income earners – risks undermining necessary investments in labor market policy. It has also been pointed out that this weakens important initiatives for the unemployed, such as education and skills development, which makes it harder to create long-term sustainable solutions in the labor market.

Madam Speaker! The government's path is clear. It is about continued cuts and tax cuts. We can state that this does not solve the challenges that exist in the Swedish labor market today.

Unlike the government, we Social Democrats stand firm that education and active measures are the way forward. We therefore want to strengthen Arbetsförmedlingen with the resources needed so that it can continue to provide people with the support they need. We also want to ensure that people receive the right tools to enter the labor market.

I can, in conclusion, state that the situation on the Swedish labor market is alarming. The number of layoffs is increasing. For example, as I mentioned, 840 workers and 338 white-collar employees were recently laid off from Northvolt. Concrete measures are needed so that people have the opportunity to get a job and do not get stuck in long-term unemployment. In this case, it is not just about saving jobs here and now, but also about preparing Sweden for the labor market of the future. We need an active labor market policy, Madam Speaker, that gives people opportunities and security in transition. We do not need the passivity that this government stands for.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Oliver Rosengren (M)

Madam Speaker! The work line can become the campfire in Sweden. Not everyone has a secure family or good childhood friends, but everyone should be able to get a really great colleague.

There on the workshop floor in Växjö, Ahmed from Araby and Simon from Söder meet. They might not always have the same lunch box, but they find really good routines for changing tires quickly. It turns out that they agree with each other that diesel prices are still too high, even though we have both lowered the tax and scrapped the extra - extreme - reduction obligation. They might not always agree on who has the best taste in music, but that is something one can live with.

There on the workshop floor, they solve many problems - not just for the customers, or for Ahmed and Simon, but also for society. People learn Swedish, create understanding for one another and for what applies in our society, get their own income and are perhaps recruited to the V75 company with their colleagues instead of into gang crime. Jobs do not solve all problems, but it is nothing that gets worse when Sweden works.

Madam Speaker! Sweden is in a recession but simultaneously has growth in several sectors. There are 75,000 vacancies at Arbetsförmedlingen, but Sweden has 470,000 unemployed. More than half of them have at most primary school education, and 170,000 completely lack education. The matching problems are serious.

People without education have difficulty establishing themselves on the labor market and run a greater risk of becoming stuck in long-term unemployment. It should not be possible to be long-term unemployed and without education in Sweden. It is one thing for people to be between jobs for a shorter period; if one has a good establishment on the labor market, one should perhaps not necessarily be put in a school bench first. But if one completely lacks education and has also been unemployed for a longer period, one should get an education.

Madam Speaker! The policy has been helpless or naive. The social contract, popularly summarized as "do your duty, claim your right" – note the order – is based on the idea that those who are without work strive to become employable, seek jobs, and take available jobs. When people do not act themselves, it must be the responsibility of politics to support the work line with incentives and rules.

I was a municipal councilor and chairman of the committee for work and welfare in Växjö municipality during two terms. The committee was responsible for the labor market, adult education, and social services. We had full-time activation as a requirement for counter-performance to receive social assistance. During my time, we carried out an extensive shift from various types of prefix jobs to regular education. Activity requirements and vocational training became the center of our offensive, local work line, the Växjölöftet. We doubled the number of places in vocational adult education, to mention one example.

We called one of our reforms expanded education obligation. Newcomers have an education obligation that extends up to primary school. We meant that there should be an education obligation for all unemployed people without education and that it should extend up to upper secondary school. We said that we had it that way. Unfortunately, the legislation prevented us from applying this reform strictly. We wanted to withdraw social assistance for those who were without work and assigned to education but did not participate. The legislation limited us, and we were wrong when such decisions were appealed. People remained in unemployment instead of being educated for the workforce and self-sufficiency. It is a failure for Sweden every time this happens.

Madam Speaker! The decision to let Arbetsförmedlingen assign the unemployed to regular education certainly risks exacerbating some injustice within the labor market policy, namely that two people who attend the same education and sit in the same classroom can have completely different economic circumstances. One can receive grants from Arbetsförmedlingen while the other needs to take out CSN loans. But at the same time, it is a step in the right direction. Now that this was introduced, Arbetsförmedlingen could have done what we wanted to do as a municipality, that is, assign to education and withdraw the grants for those who do not make an effort to educate themselves for work and leave unemployment.

The National Audit Office's report examines how effectively this has functioned. The focus is on the management of the measures and how they are followed up and coordinated to ensure that those with short-term training receive regular education. The National Audit Office identifies a number of significant deficiencies and risks as well as recommendations.

The Government has responded in its letter regarding the work that is currently being carried out. The coordination between Arbetsförmedlingen, the municipalities, and educational actors is lacking. Therefore, formalized cooperation and clear distribution of responsibility are recommended. The Government emphasizes the importance of education for work and cooperation with the municipalities. Arbetsförmedlingen now has agreements with almost all municipalities. The management is insufficient and partially pulls in different directions. Therefore, more uniform management is recommended. The Government has clarified the instructions to Arbetsförmedlingen. The target group lacks certain basic skills, and the support measures have been insufficient. Therefore, more individually adapted preparatory measures are recommended. The Government has taken the initiative for adapted training and combinations between vocational training and Swedish language instruction. The follow-up and result control are weak. Therefore, simpler information exchange and systematic follow-up are recommended. The Government underlines Arbetsförmedlingens control task and has allocated extra resources to it. Furthermore, the Government is working towards a simpler information exchange with the municipalities.

Madam Speaker! The National Audit Office notes that seven out of ten who are assigned to regular training never register. Those who do not follow an assignment should face sanctions, but this is not carried out by Arbetsförmedlingen. When I read the report, I am reminded of another requirement reform, the establishment reform. It has been criticized for lack of results, but an evaluation from the Swedish Unemployment Insurance and Compensation (Inspektionen för arbetslöshetsförsäkringen) shows that eight out of ten who did not follow the assigned establishment plan escaped sanctions. It is perhaps not so strange that a reform appears failed if the authorities do not implement the reforms.

The mission regarding the transition of short-term training to regular education can be described as a milder form of the extended education requirement we requested. This reform will perhaps also be regarded as a failure because Arbetsförmedlingen has not followed the political decisions and Sweden previously had a government that allowed people to be hidden and forgotten in exclusion instead of placing demands on the unemployed and on Arbetsförmedlingen.

It is not only when it comes to referrals to regular education that the pattern repeats. Both the Parliamentary Ombudsmen and the Unemployment Insurance Inspection have noted that Arbetsförmedlingen does not follow the legislation and fails to demand geographical and professional distribution of job seekers, i.e., that one should be prepared to move to vacant jobs or take jobs in other industries. Arbetsförmedlingen does not carry out sanctions; when unemployed people without a driver's license apply for jobs with a driver's license requirement, it is counted as an approved job search, and persons who extend their own unemployment avoid the statutory sanction. The list can be long, but that is not the focus of today's debate.

Madam Speaker! No individual measures will put Arbetsförmedlingen in order. But now there is a government that does not turn a blind eye to the problems but is prepared to implement a real change. The most important thing is to smoke out the culture of complacency that the previous government allowed to take hold at Arbetsförmedlingen and replace it with a new culture of requirements and control.

The Swedish National Audit Office's report on the transition of short-trained job seekers to regular education

Arbetsförmedlingen therefore has a new director-general. Maria Hemström-Hemmingsson is an experienced and skilled agency head, and her research background guarantees more evidence in the work. Arbetsförmedlingen has a new board. The former director-general of the National Institute of Economic Research leads the new board and has a broad representation and a clear task to get the agency under control. There is a new direction, and the regulatory letter for Arbetsförmedlingen has been tightened in several dimensions; for example, the work against fraud and errors has received increased focus and more resources. That is important. Additionally, the Unemployment Insurance Inspection has received new assignments regarding the auditing and supervision of Arbetsförmedlingen and the suppliers.

Madam Speaker! The work line is being re-established decision by decision. The employment agency's culture of coddling is replaced with requirements and control. Unemployed people without education shall educate themselves for work, otherwise they will lose their benefits.

Madam Speaker! I move for approval of the committee's proposal and for a policy where we get the Swedish Public Employment Service in order and reduce unemployment by educating those who lack education for work.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(Decisions were made under § 13.)

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