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Sweden: 'New-start' job scheme launched

A major priority of the centre-right government that took office in autumn 2006 (Sweden: Major labour reforms ahead) is to tackle unemployment, and one of its flagship schemes is the "new-start" (Nystartsjobb) programme, which was launched at the beginning of January 2007. It involves public subsidies to create jobs for unemployed people in the private sector.

New-start jobs are open to registered jobseekers who are:

  • aged 25 or older and have been unemployed, sick, employed in a government sheltered scheme or participating in a public labour market programme for at least a year;

  • aged 20-24 and have been unemployed, sick, employed in a government sheltered scheme, participating in a public labour market programme or receiving social aid for at least six months; and

  • refugees, or family members of refugees, who have received residence permits.