Reforms — 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?

Rich in iron ore, poor in inhabitants

(Mar 27, 2025) In Pajala in Northern Sweden, the local authority is grateful for the mine but also struggles to maintain and recruit workers.

Municipal Denmark to unite freedom and control

(Mar 27, 2025) “Setting free” is the topic of the day in Danish municipal and national politics. It is seen as a possible key to delivering welfare services to citizens despite fewer resources and labour shortages. Helsingør municipality has had good experiences, but the upcoming local elections could throw a spanner in the works.

Finland's April elections a test for local power structure

(Mar 27, 2025) Finland holds municipal elections in April. At the same time, there are council elections in 21 so-called wellbeing services counties. After the healthcare reform, they will be responsible for social and healthcare services. But interest in running as a candidate and in voting seems to be falling. Perhaps due to a worsening economy and reduced municipal powers. Or because elections have become too frequent.

Municipal Nordics face common challenges

(Mar 27, 2025) Municipalities across the Nordic region are under pressure from ageing populations, labour shortages and rising costs. The challenge is to deliver quality services in line with residents' growing expectations, according to the Nordic municipal organisations.

Iceland’s municipalities slashed in half in 25 years

(Mar 27, 2025) Many Icelandic municipalities have merged, particularly since they assumed responsibility for compulsory education in 1996. Although the number of municipalities has been halved since the start of the century, there are still more than ten that have fewer than 250 inhabitants, and some remain unwilling to merge.

Who will look after Sweden’s growing elderly population as birth rates fall?

(Mar 27, 2025) Between 2013 and 2023, the number of people in Sweden aged 25 to 60 rose by 455,000. By 2033, that number is expected to grow by a further 13,000 people. There is a similar development in the rest of the Nordics and the EU, which for many municipalities means severe labour shortages.

Swedish MEPs: Climate crucial in EU elections

(Apr 29, 2024) In the EU it is often said that the green transition will bring future jobs, but now the EU’s main climate actions are threatened. As June’s European Parliamentary elections approach, far-right parties want to either change or tear up existing decisions in the EU Green Deal and Fit for 55. The conservative EPP group is also looking at putting the brakes on the climate transition.

Claes-Mikael Ståhl: Money and solidarity needed for the green transition

(Apr 29, 2024) Right-wing populists are gaining ground in Europe and if they get more power in the Parliament, ambitions for the green transition and for a social and just Europe risk being pushed back. "We worry about even more push-backs in the future," says Claes-Mikael Ståhl, the European Trade Union Congress Deputy General Secretary.

EU’s labour market wish list “could crash with the Nordic model”

(Apr 29, 2024) The EU Parliament has drawn up a huge wish list for the labour market. Top social democrat candidate Johan Danielsson believes it contains reasonable demands. "The Nordic region has a lot to gain from improved working and living conditions in the rest of Europe, says Danielsson.

AI – a threat to Nordic democracy?

(Mar 25, 2024) How will artificial intelligence influence democracy? That was the big question during the marking of Nordic Day in Oslo. Do not think the EU’s AI Act will solve all our problems, the warning went.

Norway needs better flood defences after extreme weather "Hans"

(Sep 26, 2023) Norwegian companies believe we must expect more extreme weather. The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise NHO wants more and better preparedness measures. The clean-up after "Hans" means a lot of work for the infrastructure construction industry but less capacity for the construction of new public buildings like schools and care homes.

Finland’s new government wants major changes to labour law

(Sep 26, 2023) A new centre-right government started governing in Finland on 20 June after winning April’s elections, and there is now talk of an historic paradigm change. Petteri Orpo’s four party coalition wants to make major changes in the labour market.

The Swedes studying on nearly full pay

(Oct 28, 2022) Up to 80 % pay. That is how much adults in Sweden on permanent contracts can be paid if they want to study in order to improve their basic education or change careers. Applications started flowing in as soon as the new support scheme became available.

What is “real” work?

(Sep 22, 2022) Our need to be seen and appreciated is often as important or more important to us than pay. But what happens when the boss is an algorithm? Our theme this time is artificial intelligence, AI, and the Nordic labour market. That is quite a lot to chew on, so we only have space to take a few bites.

AI – threat or opportunity?

(Sep 22, 2022) In a new report on artificial intelligence for worker management, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work warns against what could happen if the technology is misapplied in workplaces. At the same time, AI is considered crucial for digital green change both in the Nordics and the Baltics.

Fiskars – the ironworks village that changed its spots

(Sep 22, 2022) The Fiskars ironworks was in decline but became a culture and tourism village. Here, the idea of labour has really changed – and it has paid off.

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.

Hopes dashed on the Finnish-Russian border

(May 26, 2022) “Parikkala is a municipality people usually drive right past,” says Mayor Vesa Huuskonen, with only a hint of humour. Parikkala is an agricultural municipality with an ageing population in South-Western Finland, right on the border with Russia. Plans for an international border crossing have been scrapped because of the changed international situation.