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In Focus

Employers need help to hire marginalised people

Employers need help to hire marginalised people

Employers’ attitudes when it comes to hiring workers with reduced work ability is not necessarily governed by ill will. A targeted effort to support employers through a project running for several years in Satakunta in western Finland showed that they need facts and practical advise in order to successfully hire people who for instance have mental challenges.

Employers need help to hire marginalised people - Read More…

Second-hand bikes showing the way back to the labour market

Second-hand bikes showing the way back to the labour market

Jasmina Smajić Šupuk from Slovenia was unemployed for two years but had a background from voluntary organisations like Amnesty International. When she could find no employer who would take her on, she decided to start her own business — finding other people jobs.

Second-hand bikes showing the way back to the labour market - Read More…

Women less penalised for part time work than previously thought

Part-time work has few negative consequences for women in the Nordic region. New regulations have reduced the impact on pensions. A preschool teacher or enrolled nurse in Denmark or Norway who works part time for ten years still receives 98-99 percent of the maximum pension.

Women less penalised for part time work than previously thought - Read More…

“Part time is about money, culture and morals”

“Part time is about money, culture and morals”

There is an intensive debate on part time work in all of the Nordic countries. But this goes further than women choosing to work part time for certain periods. If gender equality is the goal, should women take on more full time work or should men work more part time?

“Part time is about money, culture and morals” - Read More…

Danish educator: my economy suffers because of part time work

Danish educator: my economy suffers because of part time work

Dorte Nielsen is one of many Danish female public sector employees in part time work. Her working life has improved but her economy has suffered.

Danish educator: my economy suffers because of part time work - Read More…

British youth trapped in zero hour contracts

British youth trapped in zero hour contracts

In the UK the use of so-called zero hour contracts is increasing in step with the country’s economic uncertainty. Employers say the contracts created jobs and give workers more freedom. Trade unions fight what they call the exploitation of young people.

British youth trapped in zero hour contracts - Read More…

More part time jobs mean worse working environments for young people

More part time jobs mean worse working environments for young people

Young workers represent a heterogeneous group facing complex risks in working life. That means it is no longer enough to just focus on the young people themselves. In order to secure preventative working environment measures you also need to look at surrounding issues.

More part time jobs mean worse working environments for young people - Read More…

Call centres: young people's entry into working life

Call centres: young people's entry into working life

Few workplaces take on more diverse staff than call centres. Youth, pensioners, handicapped, immigrants – it is the attitude and voice that determines your success, not your background or look. Even so, one of the fastest growing sectors is struggling to find enough people who want to work.

Call centres: young people's entry into working life - Read More…

Medical students won’t work at Iceland’s National University Hospital

Medical students won’t work at Iceland’s National University Hospital

Less than ten percent of Iceland’s medical students want to seek work at Iceland’s largest hospital, the university hospital Landspítalinn. Why? Bad working conditions, stress, low pay and long working hours.

Medical students won’t work at Iceland’s National University Hospital - Read More…

Au pairs balance between cultural exchange and work

Au pairs balance between cultural exchange and work

How far does our concern for young people’s working environment stretch? Does it go as far as to cover Filipino au pairs in Norway and Denmark? This month saw the start of a trial in Oslo against a host family who allegedly forced two au pairs to work 96 hour weeks.

Au pairs balance between cultural exchange and work - Read More…

Labour market education: a pathway to work? More knowledge is needed

Labour market education: a pathway to work? More knowledge is needed

Labour market education was the hot topic for the discussion between employment ministers and the social partners at the Nordic Minister meeting in Övertorneå on 27. august. The debate unveiled large differences between the Nordic countries, and a lack of knowledge about the efficiency of such measures. A new Nordic initiative aims to give a nuanced insight into systems and the way they operate.

Labour market education: a pathway to work? More knowledge is needed - Read More…

Successful vocational training for long-term unemployed in the Arctic

Successful vocational training for long-term unemployed in the Arctic

The Arctic Vocational Foundation is a joint Nordic institution providing individualised training within more than 30 vocations to unemployed Finns, Swedes and Norwegians. This, is where Sweden’s Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström invited her Nordic colleagues and working life representatives to consultations. What makes this training so special?

Successful vocational training for long-term unemployed in the Arctic - Read More…

More companies take responsibility in fight against youth unemployment

More companies take responsibility in fight against youth unemployment

What does a successful anti youth unemployment project look like? The Nordic labour ministers have asked Danish consultancy agency Damvad to map Nordic youth projects that are based on cooperation between authorities and companies.

More companies take responsibility in fight against youth unemployment - Read More…

Finland: Adults with jobs seek out apprenticeships

In later years the EU Commission has been very interested in using apprenticeships to create more opportunities in the labour market for young people.

Finland: Adults with jobs seek out apprenticeships - Read More…

Could increased job engagement improve productivity?

Could increased job engagement improve productivity?

There seems to be an obvious link between job engagement and high productivity. Nordic politicians highlight the work environment as a competitive factor and hope it can lead to increased growth. But it’s not that simple. There are loose cannons and lost sheep among workers too.

Could increased job engagement improve productivity? - Read More…

Nearly always fun at work

Nearly always fun at work

Solicitors are rarely considered to be the most relaxed and easy going professional group, but Helsinki solicitor firm Fondia is challenging the stereotypes. The office is teaming with recycled goods, soft values and fun and games – in all seriousness.

Nearly always fun at work - Read More…

Experts: action needed to combat bad psychosocial work environments

A Nordic proposition to systematically measure businesses’ psychosocial work environments is getting expert backing. But the businesses must also play their part, and hiring a consultant is not always the best solution.

Experts: action needed to combat bad psychosocial work environments - Read More…

Pressure on online journalists challenges job engagement

Pressure on online journalists challenges job engagement

New technology puts more pressure on journalists to be ‘online’ and makes their job situation more diffuse and the journalists more vulnerable. Meanwhile support systems have not changed. If you want to create commitment and job engagement you need to strengthen work environment resources, say researchers.

Pressure on online journalists challenges job engagement - Read More…

”Don’t punish us, astonish us”

”Don’t punish us, astonish us”

To really listen to young people and see each individual in light of their own merit, cooperating across sectors while also focusing on schools - where life-long learning begins. To learn from the other Nordic countries and benefit from the common Nordic labour market - these were all themes when Nordic prime ministers and labour ministers met in Stockholm on 16 May.

”Don’t punish us, astonish us” - Read More…

Youth Employment Forum showcasing the good Nordic examples

Youth Employment Forum showcasing the good Nordic examples

“A murderer can become a fantastic worker. He has been in prison, thinking. Employers who dare hire a former criminal get very loyal workers,” says Nanna Ravn Hansen, a consultant at High:five.

Youth Employment Forum showcasing the good Nordic examples - Read More…

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