Response to interpellation 2022/23:19 on the Swedish Public Employment Service's local presence
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
1 L believes that Arbetsförmedlingen should have a purposeful local presence through its own management, service offices, or cooperation with municipalities 1. 2 L argues that the government is investing billions in active labor market policy and that the new instruction should strengthen physical meetings for individuals with great needs 2. 3 4 S argues that Arbetsförmedlingen must be available throughout the country and that the government continues to narrow the labor market policy toolbox 3 4. 3 4 S argues that reduced appropriations affect the possibility of tailoring interventions to the individual 3 4. 4 S believes that Arbetsförmedlingen needs financial stability and a long-term plan 4. 4 S argues that the government is scaling back ambitions and that "nystartsjobb" (new start jobs) is not a sufficient solution 4. 5 S criticizes that Arbetsförmedlingen has disappeared from several locations 5. 5 S argues that the government's policy hits those who need society the most 5. 6 L argues that it is better to do something for long-term unemployment half a year before the election than nothing at all 6. 6 L supports the order to strengthen support for the long-term unemployed 6. 6 L argues that transition support is part of active labor market policy and that establishment jobs are a better support than extra services 6. 7 L argues that it is unsustainable that women with a foreign background are far from the labor market 7. 7 L argues that the Liberals have previously been critical of Arbetsförmedlingen for efficiency reasons 7.
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 Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! [The member] has asked me whether I and the government will ensure that Arbetsförmedlingen has a physical presence in all municipalities, how I and the government intend to ensure Arbetsförmedlingen's cooperation with municipalities and employers, and whether I and the government will fulfill the mission to strengthen Arbetsförmedlingen's presence in areas with high long-term unemployment.
The labor market policy definitely needs to become more cost-effective and designed so that more people get into work. Matching needs to be improved and the skills shortage must be combated throughout our country. Long-term unemployment needs to decrease. For the labor market policy activities to function well, Arbetsförmedlingen and the measures that the agency has at its disposal need to be effective and constantly evaluated.
Arbetsförmedlingen shall have a purposeful local presence - in its own capacity, through service offices, or through cooperation with the municipalities. According to Arbetsförmedlingen's new instruction, which entered into force on 1 December this year, the agency's organization locally, regionally, and nationally shall be designed so that job seekers who need physical meetings shall receive them, so that purposeful employer contacts are ensured, and so that cooperation with municipalities and other actors is enabled.
Arbetsförmedlingen reported on October 26 the assignment in the regulatory letter for 2022 regarding equivalent support and equivalent service throughout the country. The report clearly states that there are 88 permanently staffed employment offices, 24 offices that the agency's staff travel to, and 104 collaborative solutions with others, for example Statens servicecenter and municipalities. This means that Arbetsförmedlingen can meet job seekers and employers physically at 216 locations in the country in 209 of the country's municipalities. In the municipalities where there are no employment offices or collaborative solutions, physical meetings can be offered in the neighboring municipality. The number of service offices will increase during 2023. With the expansion of additional service offices, there will be further opportunities for physical meetings among these.
Madam Speaker! Regarding the assignment to Arbetsförmedlingen to reduce long-term unemployment (A2022/00330), which was submitted to the agency on March 2 this year, Arbetsförmedlingen has reported that they intend to submit a progress report by March 15 next year at the latest. We must therefore wait another couple of months. The Government is awaiting the response from the agency before the Government can take a position on what further measures are needed.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! I would first like to thank Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson for the answer. The Minister states in his answer that more people shall enter employment. I share the intention that more people shall enter employment. But for that, a well-functioning and active labor market policy is required throughout the country.
Arbetsförmedlingens mission is to ensure that active labor market policy exists and functions throughout the entire country. Regardless of whether one lives in Vivalla, Botkyrka, Ystad or Kiruna, one should be able to turn to Arbetsförmedlingen and receive the help and support needed to be able to get a job.
The Swedish Public Employment Service's continuous physical presence throughout the country is extremely important, not least for job seekers who are further away from the labor market and have a greater need for support. The Swedish Public Employment Service's local presence is also a prerequisite in maintaining purposeful employer contacts and cooperation with the municipalities.
Arbetsförmedlingen must, in short and good terms, be available and be an active and unifying actor in the work to achieve a better functioning labor market throughout the country. I welcome that the government in Arbetsförmedlingen's new instruction points out these parts. But at the same time, I want to emphasize that Arbetsförmedlingen is the state's labor market policy expert agency and should, to a greater extent than today, be given long-term and stable conditions to choose labor market policy interventions based on the individual job seeker's needs.
Madam Speaker! In the cooperation agreement between the Sweden Democrats and the government, there is much about migration, crime, and punishment. But there is very little here about the Swedish labor market. For example, there is not a single word about Arbetsförmedlingen.
Regarding the discussion on long-term and stable resources for labor market policy, I can state that at the end of 2018, the Riksdag adopted the budget of the Moderaterna, Kristdemokraterna, and Sverigedemokraterna, which meant that the appropriations to Arbetsförmedlingen were reduced by 890 million kronor.
The effect of this was that some offices were closed and that 3,500 employees had to leave the agency. The previous Social Democratic government did, however, add some resources during the process. In some places, we also opened new offices.
Madam Speaker! In our budget alternative for next year, we add more resources to both the Employment Service's administrative grants and programs, in contrast to the Sweden Democrats' and the government's budget. It unfortunately contains further cuts on employees and premises.
The question of local presence engages very many municipal politicians in our elongated country. Several municipal commissioners and experts are concerned about how the government handles Arbetsförmedlingen. This concern is confirmed in SKR's latest report Municipal Perspectives on Labor Market Policy 2022. In that report, very many deficiencies in Arbetsförmedlingens local presence are pointed out.
I would still like to take the opportunity to ask the Minister a question in light of the SKR report and also the criticism that exists. In what way will the government ensure that Arbetsförmedlingen has sufficient resources to strengthen local cooperation, continue to manage the skills supply, and support those who are far from work?
To the newspaper Arbetet, the Minister of Employment states in an interview on October 20 that "Arbetsförmedlingen shall become a top-class authority." What measures will Johan Pehrson take to achieve this?
Jim Svensk Larm (S)
Madam Speaker! I want to begin by thanking Member Serkan Köse for an important interpellation. Arbetsförmedlingen is an agency that many have probably been or will come into contact with at some point during their lifetime. To be able to make my first contribution in the Riksdag on this issue feels significant.
I remember when I finished high school and was about to enter the labor market. At that time, I received information about the importance of registering as unemployed on the first day at Arbetsförmedlingen to be entitled to compensation and the right support. It was important for getting to new work.
When the first day of unemployment arrived, I reported to the Arbetsförmedlingen office in Hudiksvall. It did not take long before I was back on the labor market through good cooperation between the municipality and Arbetsförmedlingen. For about one school year, I worked at the lower secondary school in the place where I grew up and in the school I myself attended.
It was there at Iggesunds skola that I received the foundation of my education which has taken me further in my work. It felt great to be there and help the students in their ladder of knowledge. It gave me an important sense of community and a good introduction to working life.
Getting into the working life quickly is important. It gives a sense of community. This applies both to my first summer job at Ankarmons camping and when I got to work at a hostel in Scotland. Work has a central importance in society. It contributes to community in the social sphere and contributes to welfare.
A job gives the individual the freedom to control their own life. It contributes to increased equality. Therefore, a policy that focuses on jobs and equality is extremely important. Unfortunately, not everyone gets into work directly. It risks becoming a vicious spiral. The longer you have been unemployed, the harder it is to get back into the labor market again.
To reduce long-term unemployment, close cooperation between municipalities, employers, and Arbetsförmedlingen is extremely important. The labor market measures offered need to be adapted to both the individual and the local labor market.
The need that exists in Hudiksvall is not the same as that which exists in Stockholm. There can also be large differences between adjacent municipalities, such as Hudiksvall and Nordanstig, for example. Therefore, Arbetsförmedlingen needs to have the opportunity to offer interventions that are individually tailored and that lead to employment.
Madam Speaker! When the Moderates' and Christian Democrats' budget was adopted with the support of the Sweden Democrats in 2018, Arbetsförmedlingen was forced into a major change. Thousands of employees were forced to leave their jobs, and with that, offices in many municipalities were also left. In my home county of Gävleborg alone, Arbetsförmedlingen left four municipalities. This has an impact on the possibility of working to reduce unemployment.
Gävleborg faces challenges with high unemployment. But there are good examples to take away from municipalities in Gävleborg. This week I had the opportunity to visit Arbetsliv och försörjning in Hudiksvall. Their work to reduce unemployment and get more people into self-sufficiency is impressive.
But they are concerned about how low a priority an active labor market policy is for the new government. Reduced appropriations to Arbetsförmedlingen risk contributing to an even poorer presence of Arbetsförmedlingen in municipalities all around Sweden. That is not the direction we need to go in to meet unemployment.
We are now entering a recession where we see increased risks that more people will lose their jobs. In that case, we need to strengthen the labor market policy so that more people go to work. Here, a local connection and close cooperation between municipalities, Arbetsförmedlingen, and companies play a large and important role.
The presence of Arbetsförmedlingen in areas with high unemployment and especially long-term unemployment becomes extra important. Instead of reducing the appropriations to Arbetsförmedlingen, we would need to increase them and clarify the mission for Arbetsförmedlingen to be available throughout the entire country.
I would therefore like to take the opportunity to ask Minister Johan Pehrson if he believes that we best meet an increased unemployment by reducing the Arbetsförmedlingen's appropriations.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! Thank you for the very important contributions in the interpellation debate!
When it comes to the economy, we have had a Social Democratic and Green Party government for eight years. It has chosen to govern voluntarily to the highest degree. It has fought hard to remain in power at all costs. We have now seen the effects.
Much important work has been done. The Liberals, for example, during part of this time have been involved and contributed to upgrading Arbetsförmedlingen together with the Social Democratic-led government.
We invest quite a few billions in Arbetsförmedlingen to have an active labor market policy. We invest even more when we look at all the programs and all the different forms of labor market training. If we add the vocational adult education and komvux, it becomes even more.
It is active labor market policy. We add everything from introductory jobs and wage subsidies to new start jobs. They currently have special support. In recent days, we learned that the parties have reached an agreement on establishment jobs. This is something that we are now preparing from the government's side. All of this is done to help people get into work.
We know that long-term unemployment is particularly troublesome. Over the course of eight years, a large and extensive unemployment has built up among people who, for various reasons, find it difficult to take the step themselves. It is for them that all these programs and initiatives are made, and that shall continue. There is no doubt about that.
When it comes to the question of what Arbetsförmedlingen should do, we are closely following what they have reported, and we have now translated this into a new instruction through a decree. There – I want to repeat, Madam Speaker – one shall cooperate with the municipalities. It is very important that people help each other, because these are people who in different ways can be subjects of various social interventions or other care from the municipalities, not least when it concerns young people. Cooperation shall be done. One shall cooperate with a number of authorities, with the labor market parties, with industry organizations and with the non-profit sector – all to gather the force that is needed and to be many together to reduce the pain that exists in long-term unemployment and in unemployment in general.
This is central for the government, and we will continue it with all our strength. Our assessment is that the intensification that Arbetsförmedlingen now intends to undertake also involves working closer to people who are unemployed, in their own municipality or in a neighboring municipality, and arranging personal meetings, which are often aimed at individuals who have a greater need for close human contact physically. In those cases, it is not possible to devote oneself to the digital solutions that have nevertheless emerged in a good way in recent times. This is intended to be reinforced.
I would therefore like to emphasize that the labor market policy intended to reduce the pain of unemployment in general, and long-term unemployment in particular, is to the highest degree active.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! I do not quite know if I agree with the Minister when it comes to the budget discussion. Both the Sweden Democrats and the government parties continue in their old tracks, and we see clear cuts in the active labor market policy.
As I mentioned earlier, we saw in previous budget proposals from M, KD, and SD extensive cuts to both Arbetsförmedlingen and job-creating measures. In this budget, with the Liberals in the government, we can observe that they continue to narrow the labor market policy toolbox and in this way worsen the possibilities to adapt measures to the job seeker's needs.
But when it comes to Arbetsförmedlingen's administrative grants, they are being reduced by 219 million kronor. These savings primarily affect wages and offices. In practice, this means lowered ambition levels and that the agency will need to make reprioritizations in its operations. We also see that further cuts in Arbetsförmedlingen's administrative budget are announced for 2024, despite the fact that we are heading into a recession.
This is not what Arbetsförmedlingen needs, Minister. Rather, Arbetsförmedlingen needs financial stability and peace and quiet to focus on its core mission, foresight and a long-term plan to work, among other things, against long-term unemployment as well as strengthening the local presence.
To take the issue of unemployment seriously, an ambitious and active labor market policy is needed that provides individuals with the type of support they need. For those who have been without a job for a long time, a chain of measures is often needed, and it is precisely here that the government scales back ambitions in the budget. To only look at the nystartsjobben, for example, I think is hardly a solution to unemployment. Much more than that is required. The Minister mentioned some of the measures. A doubling of the nystartsjobben is being made, and there is a belief that they will solve all the problems we have today in the Swedish labor market.
I still want to stay with Arbetsförmedlingen, because during the question period where the Minister and I debated last week, the Minister claimed that Arbetsförmedlingen is well-equipped to handle an economic crisis. One could say it feels like a kind of patented Johan Pehrson-answer to say one thing before and another thing after the election. In that answer, the Minister praised Arbetsförmedlingen, which the Minister also does here today. For me, it is perfectly okay that one changes their opinion, but when you Google Arbetsförmedlingen, you can even today read an example on the Liberals' website where there is a very harsh tone towards Arbetsförmedlingen.
It is argued, among other things, that Arbetsförmedlingen is the authority that has the lowest trust among private individuals and companies, that the authority allocates more resources to internal administration than to contact with employers, and that Arbetsförmedlingen needs to be streamlined to focus fully on mediating jobs and nothing else. It is also written that they want to stop the inefficient waste of billions.
There, I would also like to ask a question to Johan Pehrson regarding the discussion about the budget: In what way does the Minister consider Arbetsförmedlingen to be ready to fulfill its core mission? One can also ask whether so much has happened since the website text was written that the Minister has had reason to reassess his view on Arbetsförmedlingen. What do the Liberals think about Arbetsförmedlingen?
Jim Svensk Larm (S)
Madam Speaker! The Moderates', Sweden Democrats' and Christian Democrats' dismantling of Arbetsförmedlingen has caused it to disappear from several places. In Gävleborg alone, as I previously said, four municipalities were left by Arbetsförmedlingen. It is difficult to have a cooperation and a collaboration with a party that is not on site.
Before this debate, I took the opportunity to check in with some of the municipalities that Arbetsförmedlingen has left to hear how it has gone afterwards. It is not surprising that I hear the cooperation has become much more difficult. Contacts between Arbetsförmedlingen and municipalities that previously existed are no longer there. The resources that now exist at Arbetsförmedlingen are not sufficient to have an active collaboration.
One of the municipalities, Ockelbo, mentions that they had a well-functioning cooperation before the dismantling, but that it is now gone. This, of course, affects a municipality like Ockelbo, and the concern regarding the government's policy is that unemployment will increase and that costs will be transferred to the municipality in the form of social assistance.
The successful initiative on extra services that we Social Democrats implemented during the last parliamentary term provided a way in for people far from the labor market. Now the government continues on its usual path and strikes against those who need society the most. It will result in it becoming even harder for those who stand furthest from the labor market to get in.
So how does Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson think those who are furthest from the labor market will return to work when the active labor market policy is slaughtered?
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! Those were harsh words - slaughtered. If one looks at the appropriation for administration to Arbetsförmedlingen and to that which is carried out broadly in the entire collective active labor market policy, I do not know if the term slaughtered is relevant or reasonable, but let it stand for Jim Svensk Larm.
I think we should be careful to state that the situation is concerning. We are in a multitude of interacting crises. Only a few months ago, the interpellator and Jim Svensk Larm represented the government which, very concerningly, saw how its own policy led to, among other things, long-term unemployment becoming entrenched.
That was why, I guess, the Social Democrats in February or March this year thought that now we really must do something to address long-term unemployment. And it is better to do it half a year before the election than not at all, I usually say.
Arbetsförmedlingen has therefore been given the assignment to see how support can be strengthened for people who are specifically long-term unemployed, not least people in socioeconomically vulnerable areas with special challenges. They are also trying to analyze the needs that exist and how far from the labor market the individuals actually stand and see what new measures need to be taken.
This is, therefore, a mandate that Arbetsförmedlingen has received from the Social Democrats. I understand it, and I support this fully. I want to wait for the proposals that are now coming because I think the Social Democrats made a wise request, and it must also be endorsed by the Social Democrats in opposition in the Riksdag today, one might think.
The general situation is difficult to assess. We see a worrying increase in the warnings, but we also see that unemployment has not yet increased. This is because there is also a widespread skills shortage, which is to be partially discussed in an upcoming interpellation here today. There are therefore many vacant jobs, but there are none who can take these jobs. This leads to the question of what is the driving force. But I do not want to anticipate that interpellation debate; the questions will partially overlap.
We mean that the transition support that is now in place via the package is also part of the active policy that the parties help with – the party model that at least we from the Liberals think is so important to safeguard. It will also provide stronger support to help people out of a risk of unemployment or simply to develop themselves during their professional lives so that, with increased competence, they can choose a new career or a new employer. We have long talked about lifelong learning, but now we have a system in place that makes it truly possible.
Here comes, as a final piece of the puzzle, something that we are now preparing and which we will probably need to prepare for a while: the proposal for an agreement on establishment jobs. It is also part of an active labor market policy that we are now introducing and which we believe is a much better support than the extra services. We did not see that they had the effect we had hoped for, and there is quite a lot of criticism regarding how they were used.
Madam Speaker! I will return with an answer regarding the Liberals' website.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! I await the answer to the question with anticipation.
It is clear that one can have a discussion and a debate about extra services for a very long time. They were destined for a target group that is far from the labor market, and they gave these people the opportunity and conditions to move forward their positions. This also meant that more were recruited to the welfare sector so that it received more employees. But we can have that discussion another time.
I agree that it is good that Arbetsförmedlingen has been given the assignment to work with long-term unemployment. I think it is important that Arbetsförmedlingen has been given the assignment to continue to prioritize and work with those who are far from the labor market.
Regarding skills supply, Arbetsförmedlingen has also been given a mandate to be an important key actor in the discussion, not least with a focus on northern Sweden.
I can state that the Minister spent a lot of time of his four-minute answer talking about the previous government and not so much on answering the questions. This concerns, among other things, the SKR report and the criticism from the municipalities regarding in what way one should try to strengthen the relationship and the strategic cooperation.
I can also observe when I read, for example, the budget proposals from the Liberals and the government, that they praise the previous government's policy. There is very much that they highlight and which they consider to be very positive. Among other things, there is talk about the employment development as an example of something that has been very good. There is talk about foreign-born women and that Sweden is good when it comes to these in comparison with the average in Europe. The same applies to youth unemployment, which the government thinks looks very good because it is only half as high.
This leads to a question that can be asked of Johan Pehrson. Before the election, he said that Sweden is on the wrong track, but in the budget proposal, we hear something else.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! Certainly, the Liberals are deeply critical that long-term unemployment has been allowed to take hold, but I nevertheless have respect for the fact that a mandate has been given to the agency, which I now administer with great respect for the agency. Arbetsförmedlingen must be given a chance to fulfill this.
In this part, one can reasonably not allow there to be any difference of opinion in the chamber. Everyone who can work shall work; that is what we all agree on. We could vote on this in here, and then it would be one hundred against zero, so to speak.
We agree that many women, not least those who have immigrated to Sweden and have a foreign background, are very far from the labor market. We also have a specific investigation looking into this, given that the situation is so serious. It is unsustainable, for both reasons of freedom and reasons of equality, that women are so vulnerable, and we must change that. There is also agreement on this.
I just want to have it recorded in the minutes that the expansion of the transition package that is now being made is also a part of the active labor market policy, even if it occurs under the control of the parties. We have allocated resources in the budget, and now we have to see exactly what the agreement costs. This is for analysis, but it will hopefully be part of this moving forward. In any case, we have calculated for it.
The Liberals have for many years been critical of Arbetsförmedlingen for reasons of efficiency. The opinion polls cited here were not conducted by us; it is others who have reported that there is too little work for the money.
That is why we, together with the Social Democrats, carried out a reform effort to ensure that more focus is placed on workplace-based activities in Arbetsförmedlingen and that other actors can participate. I hope that the Social Democrats stand by this today as well in opposition.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.