Regions — Nordic Labour Journal

Nordic municipalities hunting for solutions

(Mar 27, 2025) What happens when the local school is in danger of closing down? When the municipality lacks people to fill vacancies in the health and social care sector? These are the challenges facing Nordic municipalities. How do we solve them?

Åland's government open for major offshore wind projects

(Nov 25, 2024) “Åland must be an active climate and sustainability player and for us it is natural to exploit the wind as a resource. We don’t really have much else,” says Camilla Gunell, Minister for Infrastructure and Climate of the government that wants to open up for large-scale offshore wind power in Åland’s waters.

Lava-hit Icelandic town: "We don't know when we can rebuild"

(Jan 26, 2024) Grindavík has been largely empty since 10 November. The 4000 inhabitants of the Icelandic fishing town on the south coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula had to move as a lava corridor formed partly underneath the town, causing strong earthquakes and a lot of ground movement.

"Time for a modern autonomy act for Åland"

(Nov 20, 2023) Åland has a newly elected parliament and a new government. The MPs have one big question to answer: Will Åland finally get a new and modern autonomy act? Can the effects of the tax border surrounding the archipelago be mitigated to make things easier for the business sector?

Northeast Iceland's manyfacedet labour market

(Nov 06, 2023) María Pálsdóttir throws out her arms and exclaims: “Welcome to the hospital!” Dressed in an old-fashioned nurse’s uniform, her joy and enthusiasm are almost out of place. We are, after all, visiting an old sanatorium. This is the story of “the white death” – the tuberculosis that hit the island hard.

Russian rubles in the Faroe Islands’ economy

(Nov 06, 2023) People on the Faroe Islands are holding their breath these days. At least those working in the pelagic fishing industry. So far this year their export to Russia has been worth 800 million Danish kroner (€107m). Now it might all end, as the Russian fisheries authority has recommended an import ban on Faroese fish products.

More culture, less bureaucracy – the keys to a more mobile Nordic labour market

(Aug 22, 2023) By 2030, the Nordics should be the world’s most integrated, sustainable and competitive region. The open Nordic labour market is key to fulfilling that ambition. But mobility is low and may need to be stimulated by administrative and cultural measures, according to recent research.

Estonia and the Nordics – from aid to equal cooperation

(May 30, 2023) At the Nordic Council of Ministers’ office in Tallinn, they will happily tell the story of how the Estonian President Lennart Meri regularly used to visit the information office in 1991.

Ukrainian women in Lithuania: We want to work for our country

(May 30, 2023) Many well-educated Ukrainian women who have fled with their children to Lithuania struggle to find skilled work. Now, with the support from the Nordic Council of Ministers and others, women are getting the knowledge and tools they need to rebuild their country once the war ends.

New energy in cooperation between the Baltic Sea countries

(May 30, 2023) A new wind is blowing for the cooperation on greener energy and security in the Baltic Sea region, believes Denmark’s ambassador to Lithuania.

When do we get a Council of Ministers for Transport?

(Apr 27, 2023) If the prime ministers really want the Nordics to become the world’s most integrated region, there should be a designated Nordic Council of Ministers for transport and infrastructure.

A metro from Malmö to Copenhagen

(Apr 27, 2023) The majority of Copenhagen’s political parties recently agreed to assess how a new line on the city’s metro system could be run to Malmö in Sweden. A decision is yet to be taken on another permanent link between the two countries – there are several alternatives.

Which is the best alternative?

(Apr 27, 2023) The Nordic Labour Journal put the same question to the project leaders for the three proposed new links between Sweden and Denmark. This is how they argue for their alternatives.

Working on the Baltic Sea – long shifts and a close community

(Apr 27, 2023) The ferries between the Nordics and the Baltics are important transport corridors and keep a lot of people in employment. One of the boats doing the crossing is Aura Seaways, where 52 crew live and work for four weeks at a time.

Electric planes herald new traffic patterns in the Nordics

(Apr 27, 2023) Electric planes might do more than reduce CO2 emissions. They could also open up a new category of commuting with new, shorter routes. Electric planes would also bring new jobs to manufacturing and at smaller airfields.

Creating synergies for life science cooperation in the Öresund Region

(Feb 27, 2023) Is a bridge enough to expand the common labour market in the Öresund region, or is more needed? The answer from Medicon Valley Alliances’ CEO is: We must also become better at identifying and using the factors that benefit both Denmark and Sweden and explore the potential of this.

How unique is the Nordic Council?

(Nov 29, 2022) How unique is the Nordic cooperation, with its Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers? The nearest European parallels are the Benelux Union and the Benelux Parliament. At least in one area they have taken cooperation even further. But while people in the Nordics call themselves nordbor, no one calls themselves Beneluxianian.

Green aims in uncertain times

(May 26, 2022) One of the most important goals for the Nordic labour market cooperation is to make sure the right knowledge and skills are available to meet the demands of the green transition. But new and surprising challenges must also be dealt with.

Green industry makes Swedish Luleå try to grow three times faster

(May 26, 2022) There is a race on in Northern Sweden. Enormous investments in new technology give the largest of the Nordic countries the chance to compete with others to be the first to kickstart the green transition. It is a challenge for businesses and for civil society.

Trailblazing development of green steel in Swedish Boden

(May 26, 2022) Mass production of fossil-free steel is to be the arrowhead of the green transition in Northern Sweden. The initiative aims to mitigate climate change and meet the world’s needs for sustainability. With it come many new jobs and a need for new housing.