Migrant unemployment declines in Sweden
New Europe,
May 17, 2018
Sweden’s
New Public Employment Service has revealed that migrant unemployment is
falling, although it remains almost four times as high as the country’s
average.
New Public Employment Service has revealed that migrant unemployment is
falling, although it remains almost four times as high as the country’s
average.
 |
| Jobseekers gather around an office for Sweden’s national jobs agency in central Stockholm, Sweden, 26 February 2014, after 61,000 people accidentally were invited to a meeting instead of 1,400. |
Unemployment
among Swedish-born residents stands at 3.7%, whereas 20.5% of those born
abroad remain without work. The drop was in part facilitated by subsidised
employment programmes, funded by the public sector.
These
numbers come as the subject of immigration and migrant unemployment is dividing
Sweden’s governing coalition partners.
numbers come as the subject of immigration and migrant unemployment is dividing
Sweden’s governing coalition partners.
As part
of the run-up to Sweden’s September elections, the Social Democrats announced
in April their intention to pass a law that would link eligibility to social
benefits with proficiency in Swedish. The law would apply for asylum seekers
and immigrants. Moreover, the government would be able to stop benefits for
newcomers that do not accept the state’s offer of government-provided Swedish
language tuition.
of the run-up to Sweden’s September elections, the Social Democrats announced
in April their intention to pass a law that would link eligibility to social
benefits with proficiency in Swedish. The law would apply for asylum seekers
and immigrants. Moreover, the government would be able to stop benefits for
newcomers that do not accept the state’s offer of government-provided Swedish
language tuition.
The new
policy comes as part of a string of measures that were designed to show
that the Social Democrats are getting tougher on migration. In a joint press
conference, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and labour market minister Ylva
Johansson announced in April the tightening of the Swedish migration
regime.
policy comes as part of a string of measures that were designed to show
that the Social Democrats are getting tougher on migration. In a joint press
conference, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and labour market minister Ylva
Johansson announced in April the tightening of the Swedish migration
regime.
The
emphasis of the new regime will be on skills, with prime minister Löfven making
the case that Sweden cannot continue to welcome low-skilled migration that is
adding to the ranks of the unemployed.
emphasis of the new regime will be on skills, with prime minister Löfven making
the case that Sweden cannot continue to welcome low-skilled migration that is
adding to the ranks of the unemployed.
The Green
Party is the current governments’ junior coalition partner, an alliance that
has lasted since 2008. The Greens, however, have rejected the Social Democratic
stance on migration, saying they would campaign on a different platform ahead
of the September poll.
Party is the current governments’ junior coalition partner, an alliance that
has lasted since 2008. The Greens, however, have rejected the Social Democratic
stance on migration, saying they would campaign on a different platform ahead
of the September poll.
