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European Social Fund Plus
News2023-05-10

Commissioner Schmit visits Sweden’s Public Employment Services

CommissionerSchmit and representatives of PES Sweden
(c) European Union

During his trip to Sweden on 5-8 May 2023, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, visited the Swedish Public Employment Services (PES). These services play a vital role in helping jobseekers develop the skills needed for a changing labour market. Their work helps to reduce skills mismatches and labour shortages. The PES is a major actor in the implementation of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and in promoting participation in the European Year of Skills.  

ESF partnership with Swedish employment services  

The Swedish Public Employment Services (PES) are key to ensuring the stability of Sweden’s economy and communities, as well as boosting people’s skills. PES services also focus on helping people from disadvantaged groups, including people with a low level of education or from a migrant background, by developing and implementing schemes to better integrate them into the labour market.  

Over the previous programming period, European Social Fund (ESF) contributions to Sweden amounted to approximately €95 million, supporting actions such as guidance and reskilling through specialised training. Sweden’s PES has helped implement the ESF across the country, and its activities have been instrumental in reducing the labour-market shortages that are caused by skills mismatches. As such, they are an important actor for investing in skills. 

ESF projects in Sweden 

During his visit, Commissioner Schmit was shown the results of two ESF-funded initiatives that have helped Sweden’s most vulnerable integrate into the labour market.   

The ‘Equal Entry’ (Jämställd etablering), ESF-funded programme focuses on refugee immigrants. Carried out at 16 sites across Sweden, the programme’s specialised methodology matches skills from day one, and is specifically designed to pair jobseekers who are far away from the labour market with real, good-quality work opportunities, prioritising resources for those who need support the most.  

The project’s work has borne fruit – of the more than 3 000 individuals who have participated in the project, nearly 50 percent were in employment, education or training after 18 months. A study launched as part of the programme showed that the new approach used by the ‘Equal Entry’ programme increases the likelihood of being in work and studies compared to the regular services provided by PES. The positive effects of ‘Equal Entry’ measures apply to both women and men and to those who are closer and further way from the labour market.  

The EURES Targeted Mobility Scheme (TMS) is another important project. Previously known as ‘Your first EURES Job’, TMS provides young jobseekers across the EU, Norway and Iceland with opportunities to grow their skillset and succeed through an international mobility scheme. The project matches employers and participants, filling ‘hard-to-fill’ vacancies, supporting new jobseekers to exercise their right to freedom of movement across the EU while addressing shifts in labour-market needs. 

ESF+ Investments   

Nearly 30% of the €707 million ESF+ allocation to Sweden for the 2021-2027 programming period, will be used to improve education and training systems, with a significant share of investments in upskilling and reskilling of people across the country. PES services will also continue to be supported under the ESF+ national programme for Sweden, with over €100 million to increase the possibilities for people to find work. 

ESF+ investments work hand in hand with the European Year of Skills activities in Sweden, which are designed to respond to skills and labour shortages by bringing about a skills revolution in the country.