With high unemployment in some parts of Sweden and high demand for labour in others, geographical and professional mobility is needed, Swedish labour market and integration minister Johan Pehrson said. Sweden Posts reports that Pehrson said the country’s employment service must increase this mobility among jobseekers.

This means that those who are unemployed must be prepared to move within the country or change professions, Pehrson added. Jobseekers must also be offered support in the form of, among other things, location suggestions and location directions.

“We have over 400,000 unemployed people in Sweden,” Pehrson said. “At the same time, employers from all over the country are looking for competent employees. Anyone who is unemployed must be prepared to move or change professions in order to get a job. The employment service is now tasked with increasing geographical and occupational mobility among jobseekers. This is evident from the government’s decision on the Employment Agency’s regulation letter for 2024.”

According to Pehrson, the employment service must report on measures for increased geographical and occupational mobility through support and control by 1 October 2024 at the latest. It must also report a follow-up of the content of its action plan and the results of measures taken.