The Swedish parties' policies on unemployment

There are elections on September 9. Then you have the opportunity to influence politics for more jobs! Here you can read what the parties want to do to reduce unemployment.

This is how we have summarized labor market policy

This summary is a simplified description, based primarily on information from the parties' websites. This is a living document that is updated continuously to provide the most up-to-date and accurate picture of politics possible. If you have any comments on the content, please leave a comment. The parties are listed in alphabetical order.

The challenge in summarizing labor market policy is that it spans several policy areas. Furthermore, the parties lack clear positions on several issues.

To capture the breadth and make comparison possible, the policy is described based on policy areas that are often associated with labor market issues.

The purpose of the diagram is to illustrate overall differences in the parties' labor market policies.

The rankings are based on an overall assessment of the parties' proposals in areas such as unemployment insurance, employment services, taxes, education and requirements for job seekers. The diagram is a simplification and should be seen as a basis for discussion rather than an exact measurement.

Center Party policy - unemployment and employment

The Centre Party believes that jobs are best created by companies, not by the state. They therefore want to reduce the role of the Public Employment Service and let private actors handle the matching between the unemployed and jobs. Lower taxes and fees should make it easier to hire, especially in small companies. The Centre Party talks a lot about flexibility and wants to make it easier to start and run companies, even in rural areas.

• Unemployment insurance: Higher level at the beginning, then phased out. Will cover everyone. Read more

• The Swedish Employment Agency: Will follow up and check, matching will be privatized Read more

• Taxes: Reduced taxes for those who earn the least, deductions for the elderly, rural areas Read more

• Entrepreneurship: Simplified rules for small businesses with a simple flat tax Read more

• Welfare: Freedom to choose providers, private actors, decentralization. Read more

• Economy: Restraint by strengthening the spending ceiling for the budget process. Read more

• Integration: Convert compensation into an establishment loan for newly arrived people. Read more

  
  

Christian Democrats' policy - unemployment and employment

The Christian Democrats want to combine security with responsibility. They want an unemployment insurance fund that applies to everyone and that can be adjusted according to the economic situation. They want to reduce the number of training courses offered by the employment service and instead focus on regular education and vocational training. The Christian Democrats also want to improve the conditions for companies, especially small businesses, through less hassle and reasonable taxes.

• Unemployment insurance: Should be universal, mandatory and cyclical Read more

• The Swedish Public Employment Service: Will not provide training. Introduce state unemployment benefit Read more

• Taxes: Lower taxes according to the half-and-half principle. Read more

• Business: Lower taxes and fees, simpler rules for businesses. Read more

• Welfare: For independent schools, private healthcare. Taxes should finance welfare. Read more

• The economy: Market economy combined with social policy for general welfare Read more

• Integration: Is more than language and economics - core values are important too Read more

Liberal Party policy - unemployment and employment

The Liberals believe that education is the key to jobs. They therefore want to invest more in schools and welfare. The unemployment insurance fund should be state-run and provide good compensation at the beginning, but be phased out over time so that it always pays to take a job. At the same time, the unemployed should be helped to train or change careers. The Liberals want to combine security with clear demands and believe that the state should take a large responsibility for transition.

• Unemployment insurance: General, state-run, high at first then lower. Based on income not working hours. Read more

• The Swedish Employment Agency: Will focus on those who have the most difficulty getting a job. Read more

• Taxes: Proposes generous tax cuts so that those who work Read more

• Business: Equal conditions for sickness benefit, unemployment insurance for business owners and employees. Read more

• Public sector: The school should be state-owned, not for profit. Renovate the independent school Read more

• Economy: Wants to increase public investments in schools, climate and elderly care. Read more

• Integration: Entry-level jobs - Lower starting salary and no employer contributions for young people and new arrivals. Read more

The Green Party's policy - unemployment and employment

The Green Party wants to make the social security systems simpler and fairer. They believe that compensation should be the same whether you are sick or unemployed. That is why they want to merge unemployment insurance, health insurance and income support into a common system. They also want more jobs to be created through climate change and green initiatives. For the Green Party, work environment and work-life balance are important issues, not just how many jobs there are.

• Unemployment insurance: Provide the same level of compensation for illness and unemployment. Read more

• The Swedish Public Employment Service: Should receive more resources, strengthen local presence with more offices Read more

• Taxes: Reduced taxes on jobs and businesses in agriculture Read more

• Entrepreneurship: better conditions for work-integrating social enterprises Read more

• Welfare: That profits in welfare should stay in welfare Read more

• The economy: Gradually reduced working hours with the vision of a four-day week. Read more

• Integration: Valuing foreign grades, qualifications + Individual support during establishment Read more

  
  

The Moderate Party's policy - unemployment and employment

The Moderates want it to be more profitable to work than to live on benefits. That is why they want to lower taxes on work and set clear requirements for those who are unemployed. Labor market policy should be about getting people into jobs quickly, not long-term measures. The Moderates see companies as the most important source of new jobs and want to make it easier to hire. Through benefits, they want to encourage companies to hire those who have been out of work for a long time.

• Unemployment insurance: Short period and tapering for faster return to work. Read more

• The Swedish Employment Agency: Close down AF and privatize - introduce job benefits Read more

• Taxes: Lower employer contributions and reduced tax on labor.

• Entrepreneurship: Reduce bureaucracy for entrepreneurs - lower taxes on capital, etc. Read more

• Welfare: The state's role is clear but limited. It provides for defense, police

  and the judiciary; healthcare, schools and education. Read more

• The economy: Lower taxes, strengthen competition - more profitable to work Read more

• Integration: Grants to companies that employ long-term unemployed people, and job premiums for job seekers who have found a job. Read more

Social Democrats' policy - unemployment and employment

The Social Democrats want more people to have jobs, but also for them to be secure jobs. They see unions, employers and the state as a team that together should make the labor market work. The unemployment insurance fund should be strong and closely linked to the unions. At the same time, they want to make demands on those who receive benefits to be active. They want to create more jobs in welfare, for example in healthcare and social care, and tighten the rules for labor immigration so that companies cannot cheat with wages and conditions.

• Unemployment insurance: More people will receive compensation of 80 percent of their previous salary. Read more

• The Swedish Public Employment Service: Stop privatization and provide individual support from day one. Read more

• Taxes: Tax capital, real estate - invest in welfare and more people will get work. Read more

• Entrepreneurship: Making it cheaper for small businesses to hire + regulatory simplification. Read more

• Welfare: Stop profits in welfare + hire more people in the public sector Read more

• The economy: Facing the recession with investments in industry, welfare, education Read more

• Integration: Shorten the path to jobs through language, education and housing. Read more

 

Sweden Democrats' policy - unemployment and employment

The Sweden Democrats want labor market policy to lead to real jobs, not temporary measures. They want security for those who have worked and paid taxes, but also a requirement that those who are unemployed take jobs when they are available. An important part of their policy is to limit labor immigration and only allow it when there is a real shortage of labor in Sweden. They often link unemployment to integration and immigration policy.

• Unemployment insurance fund: Supported reform on faster reduction and higher ceiling. Read more

• Arbetsförmedlingen: No statement. Wants to get unemployed people to leave Sweden with repatriation benefits Read more

• Taxes: Municipalities should not have to pay for government investments Read more

• Business: Government support, dialogue - simplifications and service. Read more

• Welfare: Finance large-scale investment through reduced aid and immigration Read more

• The economy: Should be based on domestic entrepreneurship, investments in the Swedish economy rather than global labor mobility. Read more

The Left Party's policy - unemployment and employment

The Left Party believes that unemployment is primarily the responsibility of society. They want those who lose their jobs to feel secure and not be forced to take the first insecure job they can. Therefore, they want a high unemployment fund that provides the same compensation throughout the time they are unemployed. They want to invest more in the Public Employment Service and use the state, not private actors, to help people find jobs. The Left Party wants to protect wages and conditions, including through stricter rules for labor immigration and shorter working hours.

• Unemployment Insurance Fund: Wants to raise the level to 80% throughout the period. Read more

• Arbetsförmedlingen: Get more resources and greater responsibility Read more

• Taxes: Lower taxes for the sick, unemployed Read more

• Business: Small and medium-sized companies will not have to pay 14 days of sick pay. Read more

• Welfare: Increase wages and staff density in the public sector. Read more

• The economy: Introducing an employment target for the Riksbank. Read more

• Integration: Focus on general welfare and zero tolerance for discrimination. Read more