Theme: New skills for new jobs - the Nordic way
New skills for new jobs - the Nordic way
Even though unemployment is still high in the Nordic region, completely new careers are also emerging. Technology and the demand for new services fuel the growth of new jobs. Universities and colleges of higher education carve out their niches by inventing new educations. Sweden has played a key role in the ESCO taxonomy project. The aim is to link all occupational classification systems in the European Union so that they can operate together. The Nordic Labour Journal takes a closer look at a few completely new jobs: meet the Office Nomad, the DNA-interpreter and some Living Statues.
An open EU labour market needs common occupational classifications
Sweden has been leading an ambitious EU project to translate more than 5,000 job titles and related terms into 22 languages. The project also describes the qualifications needed to get these jobs. This common 'encyclopedia' for working life aims to improve cross-border labour market mobility.
The life and death of a profession
How does a new occupation emerge? It's a simple question which is hard to answer. Why can't existing occupations cover the needs created by new technology and changes in consumer habits?
It took 121 years to agree what psychologists really do
When Sigmund Freud treated his first patient in 1889 little did he know that 121 years later there would be 77,250 psychiatrists and 250,000 psychologists in Europe. That is also how long it has taken to agree on a common European standard of qualifications.
The future's bright for DNA mappers
Daniel Zakrisson was always interested in genetics. Not surprising, perhaps - he's an identical twin. He and his brother have taken part in twin studies since they were children. Now he runs a company offering to map your DNA.
A day in the life of the office nomad
Janne Saarikko (40) has changed jobs again - or rather his place of work. He's now at Arc Technology, an IT business in Helsinki. He moved here with two blue IKEA boxes; one containing a computer and some papers, the other with his espresso machine, cups and saucers plus coffee beans.
Job description: do as little as possible
They suddenly appeared in all European capitals and tourist cities: the living statues. Where did they come from? What are they thinking while they stand there, lifeless? What do they do in winter? We came with many questions and quite a few prejudices when we approached one of the most peculiar occupations there is.
