Sweden
​
The context
​
In the Global Gender Gap Report 2014, the World Economic Forum quantifies the magnitude of
gender-based disparities and tracks their progress over time. The Global Gender Gap Index seeks
to measure important aspects of gender equality: the relative gaps between women and men
across four key areas: health, education, economy and politics. According to this Index,
Sweden is in the 4th position out of 142 countries. The female employment rate is 77,6%.
According to Eurostat the proportion of part-time workers in Sweden 2013 was 24,7 % of the total
employment. The incidence of part-time work differs significantly between men and women. More
than 35% of all women employed in Sweden worked on a part-time basis 2013 whereas only about
10 % of all men worked part-time.
​
The region of Västra Götaland (1.632.000 inhabitants) is mainly an industrial region and the main
employers are VOLVO and the public sector. Sweden´s second town Göteborg (541 145
inhabitants) lies here. The employment rate in the region of Västra Götaland and Göteborg are
more or less in line with the national statistics.
​
Read the full context here
Mapping process
​
In each country there was a mapping process of both the context and the good practices in 2014-2015.
Read more about the Swedish process here.
Good practices
​
5 good practices were identified in Sweden:
- Sfinx business incubator: There are persons in Göteborg that for different reasons have difficulties in finding an employment on the open labour market. For some of these persons the approach of targeted individual support and a business incubator can lead to an alternative ecomomic activity i.e. a social co-operative.
This project was an experimental activity that was put in place 2011-2014.
Read more about this good practice here
​
- Project Women Power: Through the methods in Project Women Power the women who participate - who have mainly a low –level of educational attainment, are long-term unemploymed and/or suffering from mental illness - receive the support needed to create a change in their lives and start economic activity. Although these women have been in contact with the social service system and have the right to register at the employment agency, it was not until they took part in the project that a change could take place.
Read more about this good practice here
​
- Idé, in dialogue for employment: Focusing on the target group of women from immigrant backgrounds who are long-term unemployed, and suffer from mental and physical illness, the IDÉ project aimed at contacting these women to offer individual support and guidance to economic activity. By establishing venues in their own neighbourhoods, the project ensured that women could easily get in contact with the project and be offered the service they themselves expressed a need for.
Read more about this good practice here
​
- Job Centre:
The ”Job Centre” is a regular activity and part of the social service offered in the district of Lundby. It is a good example of successful cross-sector co-operation and the activity shows good results when it comes to individuals getting into economic activity. Within the regular service aiming at helping individuals getting into the labour market, the kind of individualised support and necessary resources are not given. The service and methods used at Job Centre, where cross sector collaboration is involved, has proven fruitful and a crucial factor for success.
The Job Centre is part of the regular municipal work in the district of Lundby and is an ongoing activity.
Read more about this good practice here
- Project 'Pluskant' women's coffee:
The project addresses a target group of long-term unemployed persons. The coaches who work with the job-seekers are using an individually-focused approach which is
exactly what the ”Report on Social Sustainability City of Gothenburg” emphasises as a method for
success. The project statistics show good results indicating that successful methods are used. 25 of 45 persons have become fully or partly self-sufficient. Project period: Nov. 2014 – Jan. 2016.
Read more about this good practice here
This project has been funded with support of the European Commission. This website reflects the views only of the authors and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.