Response to interpellation 2022/23:297 on measures against unemployment in Gävleborg

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Madam Speaker! Jim Svensk Larm has asked me if I and the government intend to take any measures to reduce unemployment in Gävleborg.

Everyone who can work shall work. Now, however, signs are appearing that the situation on the labor market is beginning to cool down. Both the number of layoffs and the number of bankruptcies have been higher in recent months, and unemployment is expected to increase in both 2023 and 2024.

The Government has, in the autumn budget, submitted proposals to, among other things, provide Arbetsförmedlingen with better conditions to handle a likely increased unemployment by increasing the agency's appropriation for 2023 by 50 million kronor during the current year.

Unemployment is high at the same time as many employers cannot find the right skills. That more people acquire vocational skills is important for the skills supply and to reduce the risk that the matching problem persists.

In the supplementary budget, it is therefore proposed that 400 million kronor be allocated to strengthen vocational upper secondary adult education, that 70 million kronor be allocated to the university college, and that 249 million kronor be set aside for student support. In total, it is over 700 million kronor so that more people can acquire relevant vocational skills that lead to real jobs.

The government announced in the budget bill for 2023 a more efficient labor market policy by prioritizing cost-effective measures that are close to the workplace and that contribute to high job-seeking activity. There is also room for an increase in labor market policy measures during 2023 compared to the levels at the turn of the year. This includes, among other things, matching services, labor market training, and that more people should be able to participate in work placements.

It is important that those who are unemployed are also prepared to seek work on a broader front. The Government has therefore tasked Arbetsförmedlingen with taking measures to improve the professional and geographical mobility of job seekers. The job seeker's search activity shall also be followed up. If one cannot get a job where one lives, one may need to move to where the jobs are or retrain for another profession.

The Swedish economy is in a difficult situation, and the uncertainty regarding future developments remains. The Government is prepared to take further measures in the labor market area during the mandate period if the situation on the labor market deteriorates.

The work on the budget bill for 2024 is ongoing, among other things based on the Tidö Agreement that the four coalition parties have agreed upon. For example, it concerns measures to break passive long-term unemployment and that employers who hire the long-term unemployed should be met with lower employment costs.

The Government intends to propose that a major benefit reform be implemented aimed at increasing the incentives for people to enter employment. This involves, for example, introducing a benefit ceiling. Clear and adapted activity requirements shall be imposed on those receiving social assistance, and the possibility of socially useful activities within the activity requirements shall be investigated.

With a clear work line - where it pays to move from benefits to work and where high requirements are placed on the job seeker, but where the right support and measures are offered at the same time - the government wants to combat unemployment throughout Sweden.

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

Jim Svensk Larm (S)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Employment, for the answer! That people have a job is incredibly important for the whole society, but perhaps most importantly for the individual. A job provides a sense of community and a life where you are given the opportunity to develop, both as a person and regarding the work tasks. It lays the foundation for having the opportunity to put food on the table for the family, and it also gives an enormous sense of hope for the future – not least for the children who see their parents go to work, contribute to society, and take part in the social interaction that a job entails.

In Gävleborg, 8.7 percent were unemployed in January 2023, the second highest figure in the country - at the same time as there are many vacant jobs. The gap between the unemployed and the vacant jobs needs to be reduced. This can happen in many ways, but one of the most important is through education, which should take place at all levels and in the entire country.

Unfortunately, we now have a government that does not understand its task or its responsibility for its actions. We have a Minister for Employment who goes on Twitter to complain that the unemployed are not training to become train drivers. In reality, the training programs for train drivers are full. It could perhaps have been solved by the government increasing the appropriations for adult education, but instead, the same Minister for Employment is contributing to cutting back on adult education and active labor market policy.

Unemployment in Gävleborg has decreased from 12 percent in 2013 to 8.6 percent now in March. But we face a worrying time. The crisis is looming even in Gävleborg. The head of Arbetsförmedlingen in Gävleborg says it clearly: In a recession, it is important to increase competence and be able to meet the needs of the labor market before the turnaround. He believes that authorities and society need to cooperate to meet the recession that is sweeping over the country.

This makes many people worried and sends clear signals about the importance of education and an active labor market policy. But some who do not pick up on these signals are the government and the Minister for Employment. Instead of prioritizing an active labor market policy, the government prioritizes tax cuts for the Minister for Employment and his colleagues.

The Minister for Employment's response to the interpellation actually contains no answers on how we are to meet the unemployment in Gävleborg. The only thing we are told is that a subsidy ceiling is to be introduced. According to Johan Pehrson's tweeting before the weekend, the unemployed have it too easy. I wonder who actually has it easy - the unemployed or the Minister for Employment.

If the unemployment insurance is too good, I cannot help but wonder why the Minister for Employment and the government are making permanent the levels and conditions that we introduced. If it is about the requirements, I want to inform Johan Pehrson that requirements are placed on the unemployed. But what requirements are actually placed on Johan Pehrson and the government? The only reform Johan Pehrson has managed to deliver so far is about making permanent the unemployment insurance's levels and conditions.

No, Madam Speaker, I believe that the Minister for Employment needs to realize what reality looks like. I have heard that some of his colleagues in the government have been visited by a ghostly reality. Perhaps it is time that the Minister for Employment also realizes what reality looks like. The risk is, however, great that by the time the Minister and the government do, something would already have needed to be done—in the budget this autumn. The only question is how much damage will manage to occur before this is realized. One tip to the Minister is to listen to us Social Democrats when it comes to how we should meet increased unemployment and an economic downturn.

What should I say to everyone who is being laid off in Gävleborg, when I meet them in the future? Should I say that the government is monitoring and following the issue but has no ideas on how we are to manage this in the future so that they can get jobs again?

(Applause)

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

Linnéa Wickman (S)

Madam Speaker! In this important debate on how unemployment in Gävleborg should be combated, I want to raise an area and an issue that has a decisive significance for the county – both for people's access to a more multifaceted and broad labor market and more educations to match the labor market's needs, and for employers' access to skilled labor. It is about expanding the labor market regions – or the geographical mobility, as the Minister describes in his interpellation answer.

There is a single initiative that would be of decisive importance for doing exactly this, namely to complete the double track on the Ostkustbanan between Gävle and Härnösand. While labor market regions in other parts of the country have grown geographically by 20 percent, for the largest cities along the route, Gävle and Sundsvall, it has instead stood still for 20 years. When labor market regions reach approximately 100,000 jobs that can be commuted to, a growth occurs that is self-reinforcing and, with it, also more jobs and regional development.

Madam Speaker! When travel times between towns, between home and workplace, are cut and come down to 45 minutes instead of one and a half hours or two hours, access to jobs and education increases significantly. With a double track, the number of available job opportunities is estimated to increase by 40-80 percent for Nordanstig, Söderhamn, and Gävle. For Hudiksvall's part, it is a matter of an increase of around 400 percent, and furthermore, 200 industries are actually added.

In a debate on how the structurally higher unemployment in Gävleborg should be combated, we must therefore also speak about the state's responsibility in a broad sense. A strong and active job policy requires investments in people so that they can equip themselves for the jobs that are available. But it also requires investments in the construction of society - in infrastructure that allows more goods to travel by rail and that capacity can increase, and that people can live and reside in one place but easily work in another.

Madam Speaker! Gävleborg is the country's most densely forested county. It is one of the counties that contributes the most to Sweden's exports thanks to our both strong and innovative base industry. And it is a county with a long coastline and very good conditions for offshore wind power - and thus also the opportunity to pave the way for the industry's transition, reduced climate footprint, and new industrial establishments that would significantly strengthen the labor market in a part of the country where the unemployment rate is among the highest.

Instead of mockery of Gävleborg's unemployed, who have a life that is anything but fat, and inexplicably also, in the autumn budget, cuts to vocational training and labor market training so that the unemployed find it harder to educate themselves for the vacant jobs, a broad, active and ambitious policy is required at the national level, which sees the entire country's needs and potential and, not least, the infrastructure's decisive role.

I therefore want to ask the Minister in this debate: When can the inhabitants of Gävleborg expect the double track on the Ostkustbanan to have been completed? This is the single most important question and the measure to, in the longer term, significantly increase the Gävleborg residents' access to more jobs, industries, and educations.

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

Kristoffer Lindberg (S)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Jim Svensk Larm, for an important interpellation! Just as is raised here, the unemployment here in Gävleborg is higher than in most other parts of the country, at the beginning of this year second highest in Sweden. I too can guarantee the Minister that "fat" is not the right word to describe the existence of people who lack a job to go to.

Getting people into work is about several things. It is about education and matching to vacant jobs. It is about creating a sustainable working life to reduce sick leave. It is, not least, about good conditions for companies to start, grow, and develop in order to create job opportunities.

But in this debate, I would like to highlight another aspect that also has significance: the state-funded jobs. There are many of them, but they are unevenly distributed across our country.

The Parliamentary Rural Committee submitted its proposals to the government in early 2017. Among these were proposed relocation of jobs at state agencies from Stockholm to other parts of the country, as well as that localization outside of major metropolitan municipalities shall always be the first choice when a new agency is established.

This is important and strategic from several perspectives. That the state increases its presence throughout the country connects town and country and increases the legitimacy and trust for our authorities. But it also creates jobs, not infrequently for those with post-secondary education. The presence of state authorities implies a broadening and complements the local and regional labor market. It increases the residents' opportunities and makes it easier for other employers to find qualified labor in the area. This is evident from the Swedish National Audit Office's audit report Establishment of authorities outside Stockholm, which I assume the Minister has taken part of.

In Gävleborg, there has been a joint effort since 2017 between all municipalities, Region Gävleborg, the County Administrative Board, the University of Gävle, and several others. A united county speaks with a common voice. The goal is to achieve a relocation of an authority to Gävleborg with Bollnäs as the location. Bollnäs would, due to its geographical location, strengthen the development of the labor market in the entire county.

On repeated occasions, the government has been contacted and a social contract is requested that meets the demanded and needed growth and social development. The local and regional actors are, of course, ready to take their share of the responsibility.

Mr. Speaker! I note that the government has so far shown no interest whatsoever in Sweden outside of Stockholm, perhaps especially not for us north of the Dalälven. The latest decision to place the new Utbetalningsmyndigheten in Stockholm must be seen as a rather unimaginative choice, especially in light of the letter regarding alternative placement of Utbetalningsmyndigheten that was sent to the government from Gävleborg in the autumn.

Mr. Speaker! Reducing unemployment, of course, involves many different parameters. I mentioned some of them in my introduction. My colleagues have also mentioned them. It is not often a long-term task. Of course, the advantages I have mentioned regarding increased state employment in Gävleborg are only one of the pieces of the puzzle that are needed.

My question to the Minister is: Why does the government not want the state to take its responsibility to increase the state presence and enable state jobs in more parts of Sweden and in more parts of Gävleborg?

(Applause)

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

Sanna Backeskog (S)

Mr. Speaker and Minister! I would like us to talk a bit about the women of the welfare state. The one it is about is the one we speak to when we call to check something before the preschool trip, the one who teaches our children to read, count, and write in school, or the one we report our arrival to at the health center – the teacher, the student coach, the children's nurse, the preschool teacher, the assistant nurse, the caretaker, the catering staff, the nurse, and the social worker.

Three out of four employees within Swedish welfare are women. It is a woman who takes care of us, looks after us and cares for us when we are old and sick. It is on her that it depends. It is she who carries, she who designs and she who gives Sweden our welfare.

It shouldn't be cool to be unemployed, says the Minister for Employment. I don't know anyone who thinks it's cool to be unemployed. To say so is a mockery of everyone who struggles every day.

Mr. Speaker! The Minister might actually be able to engage in a little bit of self-criticism. Unfortunately, there are far too many of the women in the welfare sector who really do not have it great, neither economically nor in terms of the working environment. The Minister might ask himself: How can I, as Sweden's Minister for Employment, ensure that it becomes great to work in healthcare, schools, or elderly care?

During the pandemic, it was these women who went to work every day, as if everything was as usual even though nothing was as usual. The only reasonable thing now should be a major investment in upgrading and expanding the welfare. But instead, the government decides on a "steel bath" (stålbad). It is a steel bath that means fewer colleagues in a welfare system where minute-management, pressured schedules, and shared shifts are already a reality.

Mr. Speaker! Everything in society is interconnected. When we are to debate today how we are to get more people into work in Gävleborg, it is therefore not possible to overlook the government's lack of general state grants. It will contribute to increased unemployment and at the same time reduced opportunities to meet it.

The heroes of the welfare state are a group that gives us all security in everyday life. But it is also a group consisting of many professions where there is a shortage of labor. Nursing assistants, teachers, and bus drivers are just a few examples. That shortage can be met with active labor market policy. But this government does not want that. Instead, they actively push it away through cuts in both labor market policy initiatives as well as adult education and the funds needed to get more people into jobs and meet the shortage occupations.

Mr. Speaker! SKR stated in the autumn that 20 billion kronor were missing in state grants to maintain, that is, not develop but maintain, the quality of welfare. The government met this with 6 billion in general state grants - a crumb. And nothing is added in the year-end budget.

I will return to the women of the welfare sector. It is they who must do their absolute best for all of us others with the crumbs that the government has delivered. I therefore want to ask the Minister what he wants to do so that it is worthwhile to be a local caregiver, childcare worker, or assistant nurse now that his government has subjected the entire municipality and region of Sweden to a "steel bath" (austerity).

(Applause)

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for this cannonade of entries into people's realities. It concerns all those people who go to work every day, who seek jobs every day, and who educate themselves to be able to take a new job. I am glad that you who are here in the chamber also stand on their side.

I'll start from the end. I still think that lower taxes mean that the people who work hard get to keep a bit more. The women who are with me when I get my first tooth and who will be with me when I spit out my last deserve more money in their wallets, as a testament to how much we appreciate their work. It also requires employers who show respect for the difficulty of putting schedules together and who work against overly complicated and unnecessarily split shifts and so on. Those women and also the men - we want more men in the welfare sector - deserve all the respect.

One way to do it better and ensure that we have resources for the welfare is for all healthy Swedish adults to go to work. Remember that we have 400,000 people who are unemployed and 200,000 vacant jobs. That is what I inherited from all the governments that preceded this government when I took office. It still feels like there were some who sat on their hands when it came to fixing the matching.

Now we are going to do it better. That means both providing opportunities and setting some requirements. That is how we can secure the welfare. That is how we can increase the tax revenues in Sandviken, in Ljusdal and in Bollnäs. When people go to work, the municipality's opportunities to hire more people grow, and wise politicians can prioritize what is absolutely most important. For me as a Liberal, that can gladly be the children in school.

I unfortunately cannot promise large-scale government relocations here. But I understood that there was great interest in Utbetalningsmyndigheten. Over the years, agencies have been moved out with both good and less good results. And sometimes people have tried, but different union representatives have dug their heels in even when it concerns moving not particularly far from the building we are currently in, but perhaps just to some other part of this city or an adjacent municipality. But I do not rule it out.

I also want to emphasize that major investments are being made to ensure there are more police in Bollnäs, more prosecutors in Gävle, and more people working within the correctional services. Then, one can ensure that individuals serve their sentences and are given opportunities for education, treatment, and care, so that they come out better on the other side. All of these are investments that will also benefit, not least, Gävleborg.

I hear what is being said. However, it is not I who am responsible for this. But it is a fully legitimate wish.

A question also came up regarding the infrastructure. I have to be a bit tedious and say the same thing there; I must refer to the Minister for Infrastructure when it comes to the fact that we must have both roads and railways that function. It is crucial that one can travel to a job.

It was, for example, a bit chaotic in the public transport here in the city today. I live in Örebro myself and have traveled by train for 20 years. To and from, there are stops. Someone has cut the copper wires. Another time there is no train driver - you'd be amazed! All sorts of things are causing problems.

It is quite good that we focus on the rail that exists. I love railway rails and am almost obsessed with railway rails. But I think we should focus on the rail that exists. It is welcome to have more double tracks. But we perhaps should not run the project that was anyway planned and which would cost amounts of millions. It was about the so-called high-speed trains, which work perfectly well in Japan.

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

Jim Svensk Larm (S)

Mr. Speaker! The Minister's answer will not calm anyone who has been warned in Gävleborg.

The government's lack of policy in this area is worrying. There are no reforms that contribute to more people being able to get a job, and it is reduced resources for the active labor market policy.

No matter how much the government talks and writes about the importance of education, it is not the reality, because they have other priorities. This has been seen in previous debates, and it is seen again in this debate.

To reduce unemployment, there are many measures. I have mentioned some, and my colleagues in the debate have mentioned others. But the government does not seem interested in using any of these measures. Instead, it is about hitting those who have it hardest and rewarding those who already have a lot. It is classic distribution policy for a right-wing government.

Many had probably hoped that yesterday's budget amendment would provide a bit more security and make life easier for families with children who today are struggling to put food on the table, but no reassuring messages were delivered. Instead, the government focuses on lowering the price of plastic bags by a few kronor so that it will be cheaper to carry home the food that families with children cannot afford to buy.

It is a very strange prioritization, I must say, but it shows the oddities in how the Liberals think. A few years ago, they were pushing to get the tax through, but now they are to carry out the removal. Or perhaps they are pursuing the Sweden Democrats' agenda. It is simply a lost budget, and it is clear that the government lacks a plan to meet the crisis.

Mr. Speaker! Many jobs are created by committed entrepreneurs who have an idea of how they should help society. In Sweden, we are good at coming up with innovations, something that was also confirmed when I and my Social Democratic colleagues visited Movexum in Gävle a few weeks ago. There, we got to meet innovators who had ideas that all help society move forward. It was a breadth of ideas we heard about, ranging from an AI that automates certain moments in the control of drawings to an app to document violence against women. These are important innovations that meet problems in today's society.

Encouraging innovative thinking is important. That is why I became concerned when, at another meeting a few days later with an innovation hub in Hudiksvall, I received signals of concern regarding the government's ambitions. Many innovations occur within the environmental and climate fields, but with a government led by the Sverigedemokraterna, there is a concern about how the ideas will be received.

It is simply not just one thing that the government is putting on the table when it comes to unemployment. Welfare is facing a steel bath, we just heard, active labor market policy is being reduced, and training in shortage occupations at vocational and industry schools is being abolished. This is deeply worrying for the near future but also for Sweden's development in the long term.

What should I say to all the innovators in Gävleborg who feel uneasy about investing in their idea when there is uncertainty about the government's ambitions in these matters?

(Applause)

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

Linnéa Wickman (S)

Mr. Speaker! Everyone who can work shall work. That is why it is pleasing that there has been a positive development with decreasing unemployment in Gävleborg in recent years. The number of educational places has been expanded significantly, and the crisis policy during the pandemic saved many jobs.

Regarding the double track on Ostkustbanan, S-governments have consistently chosen to allocate more funds for expansion than Trafikverket has proposed. I think it is important to say that the single most important investment if unemployment in Gävleborg is to be combated and reduced in the long term is to accelerate the expansion of the double track on Ostkustbanan.

For example, the unemployed in Hudiksvall and Nordanstig would get access to two to five times more vocational college educations than today, provided that the government has not managed to cut back on the educational places. This speaks clearly about the importance of the dual track for matching in the labor market.

The Minister's own party, Liberalerna, promised during the election campaign that the double track on Ostkustbanan would be completed by 2035. For Gävleborg's development and in particular for those who today do not have a job to go to, I hope that this will not become one of those promises where Liberalerna say one thing before the election and another thing after the election.

I am concerned by the Minister's answer, specifically regarding the reference to the Minister for Infrastructure. I hope that the Minister uses their next contribution to clarify whether the Liberals stand by their election promise to complete the double track on the Ostkustbanan by 2035.

(Applause)

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

Kristoffer Lindberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! The Swedish National Audit Office's audit report Establishment of agencies outside Stockholm, which I mentioned, covers the period 2004-2020. The audit shows that the various governments we have had since then, regardless of whether they have been center-right or Social Democratic, have not done enough to strengthen the state presence outside Stockholm, this despite the previous Social Democratic government's efforts to locate agencies outside the metropolitan regions.

The work was successful insofar as the development of a constantly increasing concentration of state jobs in Stockholm was slowed down, which the Riksrevisionen's report also shows. But I mean that the work must continue, especially since Riksrevisionen shows that localization decisions have provided a positive contribution to regional development in the labor market regions where agencies have been localized.

The work I highlight regarding an agency establishment in Gävleborg is not an issue taken out of thin air, but it is solid work that has been done and is still being done. It is planned to build premises. The municipalities have increased both housing construction and planning readiness, and a new travel center has been built to enable better public transport.

I understand that we cannot get a definitive answer from the Minister on the questions being asked here today regarding the establishment of an agency, but I still hope to see an agency establishment in Gävleborg in the future.

Mr. Speaker! North of the Dalälven seems to be partly unfamiliar territory for the government, and therefore I would like to invite the Minister on the spot to come with me home to Hälsingland. I promise a fantastic day and, of course, a deep dive into the work that has been done and is already being done. I hope the Minister takes up the invitation. A warm welcome!

(Applause)

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

Sanna Backeskog (S)

Mr. Speaker! If the Minister had listened to us Social Democrats and increased the general state grants according to our budget proposal, it would have given Region Gävleborg 47 million more, and our ten municipalities would have received a total of 117 million more for welfare.

For my municipality Gävle, our increase would have given almost 42 million. These are much-needed funds. Now, the country's municipalities are instead facing a steel bath. I believe the Minister has felt how cold cold steel is, but if one is the guy at the grill, one should know how to get the steel hot.

What Sweden needs, Mr. Speaker, is not more coldness. Sweden needs more warmth, security and a stronger welfare. Sweden needs more childcare workers, field assistants, student coaches, social workers, teachers, nursing assistants, leisure educators and nurses. This could also be part of meeting the unemployment in Gävleborg and providing warmth to us all.

The employees who meet us in all stages of life deserve respect for their role as pillars of society. It should be cool to work in the welfare sector. And the alternatives are there for the Minister: more colleagues through higher general state grants, a better working environment through, for example, adequate work shoes, and better conditions by, for example, abolishing the unfair quarantine deduction.

There, the government minister has three proposals that my parliamentary colleagues from Gävleborg and I have submitted a motion on. These are proposals that are about making it worthwhile to work within the welfare sector step by step, in sensible shoes, and at the same time reducing unemployment in Gävleborg.

(Applause)

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! With soul and heart, the members point out the importance of a policy that hangs together, and all the contributions here point out the importance of achieving a stronger, warmer and safer Sweden. There is only the work line and the education line. There is no other way to create prosperity and welfare in this country.

But it becomes a bit like the chicken and the egg. I believe in the investments that we have presented in the budget and which now apply. I do not have an acute need for a megaphone yet, but I have noted that the Social Democrats want expanded and perhaps endless state grants. But we are increasing the state grants. That SKR then thinks it is too little is, so to speak, part of their task.

But I want to point out that the way to generate tax revenue in this country and to make Sweden grow does not always involve higher taxes. It is about more people working, more companies being started, Sweden becoming a wealthier country, and that many of the skilled industries that exist in Gävleborg continue to export, regardless of whether it is something that comes from raw materials or if it is the fantastic steel in Sandvik, that which builds everything from watches to airplanes and to the world's tallest buildings. This steel, which is an innovation, is something that builds this country so that we can employ all these women and men in the welfare system. We must, in fact, keep the wheels turning.

No sorrow for Gävleborg, one could say. You have a good future with the commitment that you show.

Now I will go back to Jim Svensk Larsson's introduction. I will take it again.

The government that resigned presented a budget and a plan that said the pandemic was coming to an end - not according to the WHO, but not so many people are wearing face masks when you are at the pub right now, and people are going to work and various recommendations have largely been removed. The previous government then submitted proposals to withdraw the pandemic investments. And lo and behold, sometimes the Social Democrats do good things. We then took hold of that when we took office after the election and we have a new Riksdag and a new government.

Then we now see with great humility what is happening. I feel a concern for unemployment. But right now it is decreasing. Tax revenues are increasing - more tax money comes in as all those who no longer go to Arbetsförmedlingen instead go to a job in Gävleborg, perhaps in Bollnäs. There will be more taxpayers. Then one can build more good sports facilities or spontaneous sports areas or hire one more person at the social services in Bollnäs. That might be needed.

I will have to come back to the matter regarding the invitation. But it is very beautifully presented, so it deserves a very positive reception.

So, that was it regarding the places. We are now presenting proposals for additional places within vocational adult education and universities of applied sciences.

I am also sitting here and becoming upset about things. Not all bus driver trainings were full last year. I think it is strange. There are 200,000 vacant jobs in Sweden and 400,000 unemployed. We must then do more to match this better.

We just heard something about that there might be a few more requirements, and that was raised in the previous interpellation debate. And I want to hear if the Social Democrats, in all seriousness, do not think that we should follow work instructions more clearly. That is the way forward. It should not be easy to get away with this. I think that is completely unreasonable.

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Jim Svensk Larm (S)

Mr. Speaker! This is my third debate with Johan Pehrson, and it is the third debate where my surname is mispronounced. But maybe one day it will be correct.

The Government unfortunately provides no answers on how to provide security to all those who go around with new ideas and innovations in Gävleborg.

The government is beating the big drum about 50 million kronor more for Arbetsförmedlingen. But that they are taken from the active labor market policy is not mentioned. The so-called investment in adult education is actually not an investment, but it is a slightly smaller cut than what was planned. No matter how many times the government's representatives say that this is important, it is time and again something else that is shown.

When the newspaper Arbetsvärlden asked the question of whether AI can replace Johan Pehrson in an interview presented yesterday, the answer gave me quite a few things to think about.

Johan Pehrson replied: I really do not believe that. It requires empathy for those people who need support through the Employment Department's initiatives.

Given his statement last week on what it is like for the unemployed, I begin to wonder what the actual situation is regarding the empathy for those people who take part in the measures that the Ministry of Employment offers.

I believe we can summarize this entire debate by saying that Sweden has a government that does not understand the seriousness of the consequences of what it does or in society at large. We have a Minister for Employment who believes that a benefit ceiling will give everyone work.

I think we will return to how we are to get more people into work. But I want to conclude with one final question: How does the Minister intend for unemployment in Gävleborg to decrease when you cut 50 million kronor from the active labor market policy?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I truly apologize. Jim Svensk Larm deserves for me to refer to him by his correct name. I do not know why I say Larsson time and again. But something is it.

Jim Svensk Larm is passionate about the work line. I believe he understands that it is also reached through the education line.

Wherever I turn in our beautiful country, I see the enormous challenges that we face. They are the challenges that I believe people feel did not receive any real answer from previous governments. It is about Swedish for immigrants and people who perhaps have a very low basic education and who struggle with the Swedish language. We shall do what we can to increase the power of knowledge in Swedish so that people can at all become eligible for a new start job, a labor market training, or a university of applied sciences and come in and perhaps, partially earlier than today, be able to attend vocational adult education to learn Swedish.

I see in our schools that students sit and struggle behind the apathy of screens instead of taking part in the magic of books. And we have 16,000-17,000 children who leave primary school without sufficient knowledge. This must be stopped. It is also the work line and the education line.

When it comes to labor market policy, the measures we are taking – the tens of billions spent on subsidized employment and on program activities, and which we have strengthened the unemployment insurance fund with – are to create security and help people. But fundamentally, a business policy is required in Sweden where entrepreneurship grows and where one cannot – no matter how much the Social Democrats dream of and wish for it – have taxes as high as one likes. It will drive competence and entrepreneurship out of the country and only lead to the Arbetsförmedlingen being forced to grow even more, actually against its will.

The interpellations debate was hereby concluded.

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