In Focus
Magdalena Andersson increases Nordic gender equality
This year's International Women's Day on 8 March is historic. The distribution of power in the Nordics has never been this equal, according to the Nordic Labour Journal's gender equality barometer, where women get a record 92 points.
Danish Queen historically important for gender equality
The Danes chose a woman to be sovereign, and Queen Margrethe has made a considerable contribution toward gender equality.
Finland's tech sector's culture of silence on gender equality
Women who have chosen a tech career tend to avoid gender equality debates, according to the Nordwit centre of excellence which has spent the past five years studying women's careers in technology-driven work environments.
Is there gender equality among Nordic entrepreneurs?
Both in Sweden and in Finland there are more male than female entrepreneurs. What happens to gender equality when women live with men who are entrepreneurs? Are male and female entrepreneurs motivated by different things?
NordForsk funding labour market research with 50m kroner
NordForsk is set to announce close to 50 million Norwegian kroner (€5m) in funding for research on the future of work in the Nordics. The Corona pandemic means the need for research is considerable.
Norwegian researchers' deep-dive into male power structures
It started with the question of whether female conscripts are more accepted by male ones if they sleep in the same room. It ended with disclosures of sexual harassment during police training in Norway. Dag Ellingsen led a research project funded by NordForsk which in more ways than one showed the benefits of Nordic research cooperation.
10 year Swedish research programme into the future of working life
Green change, globalisation and artificial intelligence are among the changes facing the labour market today and in the future. In 2017, a ten-year-long research programme was launched in Sweden, aimed to better understand and tackle the future challenges facing working life.
Danish foundation supporting more research on welfare states
The Rockwool Foundation has shares in a major Danish industrial concern and billions of kroner in assets which help fund research into the welfare state’s challenges. That is the kind of research the Nordics need more of, believes the foundation’s president Elin Schmidt.
Varða in Iceland: a bridge between trade unions and academics
Iceland's labour market research institute Varða was set up in February 2020 by The Icelandic Confederation of Labour ASÍ and the Confederation of State and Municipal Employees BSRB. The purpose was to strengthen social and economic labour market research and bridge the gap between academics and the labour market.
Sweden: most casual jobs and lowest work protection
Sweden has the highest unemployment levels among the Nordics, and also more casual jobs and lower employment protection levels for those on temporary contracts. An award-winning dissertation shows the consequences deregulation has had for people without permanent employment.
How much independence for Greenland, Åland and Faroes in the future?
Will the Nordic region in the future merge into one single federal state, or will there be eight, instead of five separate nation states?
Will Greenland get the mining adventure off the ground?
Greenland is about to introduce a range of reforms aimed at creating a well-functioning labour market and a stable framework for foreign investments in industries like mining.
Collective agreement extensions – the second best alternative?
Why is there so much resistance in the Nordics against the EU Commission directive on minimum wages? The answer is that the countries believe they have a nearly perfect system of collective agreements, so why change something that works? In many European countries where the social partners are weaker, extensions of collective agreements form an important part of the wage model.
"Important to continue the extension of collective agreements"
Many workers enjoy improved conditions thanks to the extension of collective agreements. One leader of a trade union organising fisheries workers believes the solution must continue even though it is not a magic solution.
Language technology – threats and opportunities
Language technology development has accelerated rapidly. This is important not only for those who make a living from translation – be it interpreters or translators – but for all businesses that have to relate to different languages. Are the Nordic countries ahead of the curve or are the IT giants like Google, Apple and Microsoft about to take control over important parts of our languages?
Understanding each other – digital services ease cultural exchange
A common digital platform for topical conversations with Nordic profiles could raise awareness about what is going on in our neighbouring countries – just like television once did. New technology makes it easier to cross national borders.
Norway's interpreter costs rise, yet interpreters are underused
The cost of interpreter services in the public sector has risen sharply in Norway. In 2019 the total cost was 843 million kroner (€85.3m). In six years interpreter costs have gone up by 72%. But not using qualified interpreters at all can quickly become even more costly. New interpreter legislation could improve the situation.
Small languages need big language's help to reach IT giants
Languages that are not used in the digital world will not survive. That is the brutal message which formed the basis for the Nordic language meeting – a two days long conference on the latest development in language technology.
Iceland: Trust in politicians almost regained
On September 25 the Icelandic voters will elect a new parliament. Majority governments used to be the rule, but with more parties and four years with Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the rulebook has changed.
Trust levels in Sweden are swaying
Trust between people in Sweden is high, just like in the other Nordic countries. And despite the pandemic and high death rates, trust remains high in Sweden compared to the rest of the world. But on a local level, there is a growing gap between areas of high and low trust, according to the latest Trust Barometer.
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