Swedish Labour Research Articles

Street‐level bureaucrats, rule‐following and tenure: How assessment tools are used at the front line of the public sector

Studies on street‐level bureaucracy examine actions of frontline workers within the public sector. In this literature, there is a lack of evidence on how job tenure affects how frontline workers respond to formal steering. We contribute to prior research by studying the nationwide introduction of an assessment support tool to be used by caseworkers to assess clients’ needs under the Swedish active labour market policy. We examine the potential effects of tenure on how caseworkers use this tool. The empirical analysis is based on quantitative and qualitative data. We show that as tenure increases, street‐level bureaucrats, especially male caseworkers, tend to act in accordance with policy signals to a lesser extent. The qualitative analysis shows that this pattern can partly be explained by the fact that increasing experience with meeting clients face to face increases caseworkers’ perceived confidence and skills.

Older people in Sweden without means: on the importance of age at immigration for being ‘twice poor’

ABSTRACTThis paper examines immigrant poverty at an older age in Sweden with an emphasis on late-in-life immigrants. We analyse tax data for the entire Swedish-born and non-Swedish-born population. The poverty status of a household is assessed using two criteria. First, the disposable income of the household in which the person lived in 2007 must be below 60 per cent of the median equivalent income in Sweden as a whole. Second, to be classified as ‘twice poor’ a household's net assets must be below SEK 10,000. The results indicate that three out of four Swedish-born older persons were not classified as poor by either of the criteria, and only 1 per cent by both criteria. In contrast, among older persons born in low-income countries almost three out of four were classified as poor according to one of the criteria and not fewer than one in three according to both. Results of estimating logistic models indicate that the risk of being considered poor according to both criteria is strongly positively related to one's age at immigration. Our results indicate that it is crucial that migrants, particularly those who arrive after age 40, be better integrated into the Swedish labour market. To alleviate poverty among those migrants who are already of older age, increased transfers are probably the only possible alternative.

The labor market in Sweden since the 1990s

The economic crisis in the early 1990s brought about a dramatic increase in unemployment and a similar decrease in labor force participation. Unemployment declined afterwards, but stabilized at around 6–7%—more than twice as high as before the crisis. Today, the unemployment rate is lower than the EU average, though Sweden no longer stands out in this respect. The 2008 financial crisis had small effects on the Swedish labor market. Employment in industry declined sharply and then remained stagnant, but employment in the service sectors has continued to grow steadily.

Does Labor Market Tightness Affect Ethnic Discrimination in Hiring?

Several studies using observational data suggest that ethnic discrimination increases in downturns of the economy. We investigate whether ethnic discrimination depends on labor market tightness using data from correspondence studies. We utilize three correspondence studies of the Swedish labor market and two different measures of labor market tightness. These two measures produce qualitatively similar results, and, opposite to the observational studies, suggests that ethnic discrimination in hiring decreases in downturns of the economy.

Ethnic discrimination in hiring, labour market tightness and the business cycle - evidence from field experiments

ABSTRACTSeveral studies using observational data suggest that ethnic discrimination increases in downturns of the economy. We investigate whether ethnic discrimination depends on labour market tightness using data from correspondence studies. We utilize three correspondence studies of the Swedish labour market and two different measures of labour market tightness. These two measures produce qualitatively similar results, and, opposite to the observational studies, suggest that ethnic discrimination in hiring decreases in downturns of the economy.

The Apple Never Falls Far from the Tree—Or does It? Finnish Female Migrant Transnational Generations on the Swedish Labor Market

Abstract Migration from Finland to Sweden has taken place throughout times, yet the Westward migration reached its peak during the 1960s and 1970s: half a million Finns migrated to Sweden, predominately motivated by employment opportunities. This article is about Finnish female labor migrants, their daily experiences in the Swedish labor market, and the experiences of these labor migrants' transnational generations. We studied the education, career choices, and occupational opportunities of both groups and found that little upward mobility can be detected. This, however, does not translate to dissatisfaction in the women we studied; on the contrary, both generations were content with their careers. In our data, the experience of the Finnish language as a burden in a professional setting seems to have carried over to the next generation, as only a few spoke of their bilingualism as a real asset.

Job Search Methods and Wages: Are Natives and Immigrants Different?

We conduct a survey of newly hired workers in the Swedish labour market to analyse if there are differences between natives and immigrants in the choice of search intensity/methods and in the search method getting the job. We further investigate if the wage and other characteristics of the new job differ depending on the successful search method. We find that immigrants use all search methods more than natives, but they especially rely on informal search. Immigrants are more likely than natives to find a job using informal search through friends and relatives, and these jobs are associated with lower wages.

Socialist patriotism, racism and antisemitism in the early Swedish labour movement

ABSTRACTBlomqvist's article holds that nationalism in the socialist labour movement did not suddenly manifest itself as Europe went to war in 1914. In Sweden, patriotic ideas from the French Revolution and radical liberalism heavily influenced the early labour movement and contributed to the development of a socialist patriotism. As a twin of socialist internationalism, this left-wing working-class nationalism centred on the question ‘Who is the nation?’ The answer was not simply ‘the working people’, but penetrated further into the question—in this age of nationalization of the masses—of who those ‘working people’ were. With few intellectual resources of its own in its early years, the young socialist movement in Sweden had to rely on popular liberal education. Accordingly, knowledge from the modern natural sciences and anthropology was imported with its ideas of human races as kernels of nationality. Academics who subsequently joined the socialist movement tried to interpret racial science and eugenics to the advantage of the working class and for the sake of social reform. Together with socialist patriotism, this attempt developed into a racialized message on the anthropological value of Swedish workers as opposed to both the bourgeois elites and foreign low-paid workers and strikebreakers. In its more extreme version—as represented by a leading Swedish social democrat—it turned older stereotypes of Jews into a racist antisemitic discourse against those who were believed to be the enemies of Swedish labour. The combination of socialist patriotism, racism and antisemitism, however, was challenged by other interpretations and experiences.

The employability of ex-offenders: a field experiment in the Swedish labor market

This paper presents the findings of a field experiment on hiring discrimination against ex-offenders in the Swedish labor market. Matched pairs of written job applications for fictitious male and female applicants with and without a past conviction of assault were sent to employers for nine different occupations. Results show that discrimination against ex-offenders exists, but the extent of it varies across occupations. The past conviction of assault was associated with 7–18 percentage point lower probability of receiving a positive employer response. Discrimination against ex-offenders was pronounced in female-dominated and high-skilled occupations. The magnitude of discrimination against ex-offenders did not vary by applicants’ sex.

Temporary Employment and the Future Labor Market Status

The aim of this article is to describe and explain the development of temporary employment in Sweden between 1992 and 2010, and to investigate the effect of temporary employment for individuals’ future career on the labor market. The article analyzes temporary employees’ status transitions on the labor market using Swedish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data for the period 1992–2010. Each cohort consists of 2-year panels and focuses on changes between the first and last measuring points. The findings indicate that the specific type of temporary employment is crucial as regards whether or not it constitutes a stepping-stone toward permanent employment. The chances are greater in the case of, for example, substitutes, but are considerably less in the case of on-call employment. Certain types of temporary employment thus seem to be used by the employer to screen the employability of the employee, while others are used for achieving flexibility

Temporary Employment and the Future Labor Market Status

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">The aim of this article is to describe and explain the development of temporary employment in Sweden between 1992 and 2010, and to investigate the effect of temporary employment for individuals’ future career on the labor market. The article analyzes temporary employees’ status transitions on the labor market using Swedish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data for the period 1992–2010. Each cohort consists of 2-year panels and focuses on changes between the first and last measuring points. The ndings indicate that the specific type of temporary employment is crucial as regards whether or not it constitutes a stepping-stone toward permanent employment. The chances are greater in the case of, for example, substitutes, but are considerably less in the case of on-call employment. Certain types of temporary employment thus seem to be used by the employer to screen the employability of the employee, while others are used for achieving flexibility </div></div></div>

Age at immigration matters for labor market integration\u2014the Swedish example

This paper analyses how age at immigration to Sweden and getting a first foothold in the labor market is related. We estimate hazard rate models using registry data on all persons who arrived in each of the years 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002. The results show that the number of years taken to get a foothold in the Swedish labor market increases rapidly by age among immigrants from middle- and low-income countries aged 40+. Most individuals who are born in middle- or low-income countries who immigrate after age 50 never get a foothold in the Swedish labor market.

Occupation, gender and work-life exits: a Swedish population study

ABSTRACTThe present study was undertaken in order to examine the differences between occupations in the Swedish labour market with respect to the risk for men and women of leaving working life prematurely. The project was carried out as a population study employing methodology used in demographics to predict life length at birth. Here, calculations of expected remaining work-life length were based on the exits from working life. The study was based on the Swedish national labour statistics, covering all employees who had an occupational definition in 2006 and who were in the age range 35–64 years during the study period 2007–2010. There was a clear socio-economic divide in exit patterns, comparing blue- and white-collar jobs. The differences between the highest and the lowest risk jobs exceeded 4.5 years among both men and women. In the blue-collar occupational groups there were 50 per cent or less ‘survivors’ still working at age 65; in many white-collar occupations there were more than 60 per cent. Men and women exited working life at the same age. Compared to a similar study carried out in 2006, the same socio-economic pattern prevails, but people now work longer in almost all occupations. Women exited working life 0.8 years earlier than men in 2006; this difference is now gone.

Constrained Politics: Labour Market Actors, Political Parties and Swedish Labour Immigration Policy

Sweden used to be one of the most restrictive countries in the Organisation of Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) in terms of labour immigration policy. This was drastically changed in 2008 when a very liberal immigration law was passed. Why did one of the most restrictive labour immigration countries suddenly become one of the most liberal ones? The article argues that it is necessary to consider labour market institutions and their consequences for labour migration. These factors will influence the preferences, strategies and chances of success for various policy actors. A decline in union power and corporatism in Sweden had important consequences for its labour immigration. Following this decline, employers and centre-right parties became more active and adopted more liberal policy positions than previously. The article analyses policy developments since the 1960s and draws on official documents, position statements, party manifestos, media coverage and original elite interviews.

Elite mobility among college graduated men in Sweden

Using Swedish registry data, we study the chances of mobility into the Swedish labour market elite for men who graduated in the years 1985−2005. The elite is defined as top earners within mid- and large sized firms and within the public sector organisations (henceforth, we use organisation for both firms and public organisations). Using discrete time event history models, we study the incidence of elite entry in terms of external recruitment and internal promotion. The choice of field of study and of college or university are important, as are personality and, to a limited extent, cognitive ability. What is most striking is that having kin in elite positions increases the chance of elite entry in general, and having parents in top positions in the same organisation increases the likelihood of internal promotion. In sum, elite entry among college-educated males is associated with a diversity of factors, suggesting that complex explanations for labour market success should be considered, where skills, personality, and family ties all seem to matter.

Does having one’s own place to live make someone more employable?

ABSTRACTThis article encapsulates the findings of a randomized correspondence test field experiment investigating whether job candidates’ home status influences their employability. More than 2000 employers with vacancies in the Swedish labour market received a job application from a fictitious candidate. A job candidate’s home status (his or her own place to live or temporary housing with a friend) was randomized across employers. Results show that home status indeed affected the number of positive employer responses received by job candidates, mainly in low-skilled occupations. Not having a place to live at the time of the application proved a disadvantage when applying for positions within but an advantage when applying for positions outside the city of residence at the time of the application.

The Evolution of Swedish Labor Income Taxation in a 150-Year Perspective: An In-Depth Characterization

The tax system is one of society’s most fundamental institutions, as taxation has profound effects on many economic decisions such as labor supply, savings, and investments. Taxation of the factors of production—particularly labor and capital income—has attracted particular interest, because taxation is a major determinant of their quantity, quality, and usage over time. This chapter studies income taxes on labor. The purpose is to analyze how the taxation of labor income has developed over time.

Editorial: BRICS is challenging the global economic model, and unions see some potential in this

2 | International Union Rights | 24/4 EDITORIAL Editorial: BRICS is challenging the global economic model, and unions see some potential in this This edition of IUR looks at how the global BRICS group of countries was formed, looks at their priorities and activities, and asks how trade unions are engaging with the BRICS to promote reform. Bethuel Maserumule questions how trade unions in emerging economies should orientate themselves with respect to the dominance of States that in some cases have failed to ratify freedom of association. Chinese investment, he observes, ‘has been flooding South Africa with cheap manufacturing and agricultural products, resulting in massive job losses as factories close or scale down operations’, while Chinese MNCs ‘do not respect the workers right to freedom of association’. China labour specialist Katie Quan shares with IUR a recent article discussing efforts by sections of the US labour movement to reach out to and engage with the ACFTU. These efforts, Quan tells us, have ‘a troubled history’, have been ‘decidedly slow’, and left the Americans with a sense that ‘concepts of solidarity might be very different from those of the ACFTU, and that their goals for developing relationships and activities might not be exactly the same’. Quan’s analysis reveals the distance between the ACFTU and many Western unions and throw into relief the cooperation that exists within the BRICS Trade Union Forum, where Indian and Brazilian unions that were formerly part of the ICFTU, and the ITUC President, have sat alongside the ACFTU and trade unions from quite different traditions. Almost uniquely, within the BRICS Trade Union Forum, these unions all work together effectively in support of a progressive challenge to neo-liberalism. Challenging the dominance of the neo-liberal economic model, and of the dominance of American and European interests in international forums, has been one clearly successful outcome of the work of the BRICS group. But as BRICS becomes more established as a global political grouping, can the bloc sustain this challenge as the political character of its member States undergoes change? India joined BRICS under a Congress leadership, but now participates under the BJP. In Brazil the liberal right has gained power under a dubious process based around the impeachment of the left-wing President, rapidly implementing aggressive social spending and labour law reform. Ana Gomes writes that they constitute ‘one of the most regressive steps in Brazil’s contemporary history of labour regulation’. In this edition we are not exclusively concerned with the BRICS countries, and look also at developments in northern Europe. Eric Sjödin explains the latest Swedish labour law changes, which to an extent restore trade union power that was curtailed by the European Court of Justice in the infamous Laval case. Wolfgang Däubler describes how, following a political and legal battle, rights for independent unions received a new level of protection, having previously been largely subsumed under the rights of majority unions. Also in this edition, David Doorey reports on litigation attempted in Canada by victims of the catastrophic 2012 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh. Sadly the outcome was discouraging, Doorey concluding that ‘the vacuousness of CSR seems not only to be confirmed by this decision, but to be promoted as a virtue worthy of legal protections’… Daniel Blackburn, Editor Next issue of IUR Articles between 850 and 1800 words should be sent by email (mail@ictur.org) and accompanied by a photograph and short biographical note of the author. Please send by 5 March 2018 if they are to be considered for publication in the next issue of IUR. Subscribe to IUR / Affiliate to ICTUR Subscriptions: Print only £25 (individual rate), Print and electronic £75 (individual or institutional), Electronic only £55 (individual or institutional). Affiliations: (includes print and electronic access, and more, see www.ictur.org) Individual £50, Branch / local union £75 (includes 3 subscriptions), National (contact ICTUR for details). Name/Organisation Address Email Payment on invoice / Payment enclosed For discounted rates please contact IUR’s Editor Daniel Blackburn on ictur@ictur.org. All subscription services are available via our website: www.ictur.org/affiliation.htm ...

Conscientious objection to abortion in Sweden. A commentary on the Swedish Labour Court Grimmark case, AD 2017 nr 23

Per assicurare l’effettivo godimento della liberta di religione e di coscienza del personale medico e sanitario, alcuni paesi europei hanno sviluppato e adottato norme che conferiscono a tali professionisti il diritto di rifiutare di partecipare a certi servizi medici e sanitari, per motivi religiosi, un diritto conosciuto anche come diritto all’obiezione di coscienza nei servizi medici e sanitari. Attualmente, in Svezia, non esiste un diritto del personale medico e sanitario di rifiutarsi di prestare - o partecipare a - procedure mediche contrarie al loro credo religioso o morale. Tuttavia, recentemente la questione dell’obiezione di coscienza e stata sollevata in Svezia a seguito del desiderio di svariate ostetriche di non prendere parte a procedure di aborto, in quanto in contrasto con le proprie convinzioni religiose. In questo commento, la questione dell’obiezione di coscienza all’aborto in Svezia e esplorata analizzando un recente caso sollevato di fronte al Tribunale del lavoro svedese (AD 2017 n. 23), concernente un’ostetrica, Ellinor, a cui era stato rifiutato l’impiego in svariate cliniche per donne sulla base della sua obiezione di coscienza all’aborto. Il caso e analizzato con particolare attenzione alle due questioni centrali trattate dal Tribunale del lavoro: la liberta di religione e il divieto di discriminazione per motivi religiosi.

The Matching Process: Search or Mismatch?

We examine the matching process using monthly panel data for local labour markets in Sweden. We find that an increase in the number of vacancies has a very weak effect on the number of unemployed workers being hired: unemployed workers appear to be unable to compete for many available jobs. Vacancies are filled quickly and there is no (or only weak) evidence that high unemployment makes it easier to fill vacancies; hiring appears to be determined by labour demand while frictions and labour supply play small roles. These results indicate persistent mismatch in the Swedish labour market.