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Iceland’s Starfatorgið: 50 percent found jobs or started studying

The financial crisis was tough on young Icelanders. Many were unemployed for so long that they no longer qualified for unemployment benefit, only welfare money. Between 2012 and 2014 they were sent to Starfatorgið (‘the labour exchange’). Over half of the young people participating in Starfatorgið got a job or started studying.
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Happy with Starfatorgið

Arnór Ingi Jónsson (25) has just started work with the car dealership Bílabúð Benna. But before that he spent two to three months at Starfatorgið. 

Two years ago Arnór Ingi got a job with machine manufacturer Micro Ryðfrí Smíði via Starfatorgið in Reykjavik. He is happy with the service. 

Arnór Ingi got in touch with Starfatorgið for the first time two years ago. At that time Starfatorgið had reams of lists with all the companies which were looking to hire people. Young people sat down and leafed through the lists and applied for jobs. 

“It is a convenient way which makes job seeking easier,” he says.

Arnór Ingi is interested in cars and had finished a course in electric welding at the Borgarholtsskóli vocational school in Reykjavik. He soon found work at the machine manufacturer Micro, where he worked as a mechanic while studying for half a year. But he wanted to try working nights, and left Micro.

Night shifts

He worked nights at the food company Hollt og Gott, making sandwiches and salads. But despite the night shifts he kept waking up at seven in the morning, so the working hours did not really suit him. He also got paid less than the company had promised him. So Arnór Ingi ended up at Starfatorgið  again.

Starfatorgið gave Arnór Ingi the chance to get a machine operator education. He finished this in March and now he works for the car dealership Bílabúð Benna.

“I have worked for Bílabúð Benna before. When I met my former boss he offered me a job which I of course accepted,” says Arnór Ingi Jónsson happily. 

Arnór Ingi Jónsson

Arnór Ingi Jónsson likes bodybuilding on his free time. Photo: Private

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