In Focus
Swedish leadership traditions through Chinese eyes
Swedish leadership traditions are based on a great deal of trust in employees. Management presume people can work independently without the need for close supervision. But how do Swedish companies function abroad? How do you reconcile the Swedish Dala horse with the Chinese dragon?
When Iceland's trust vanished, comedian Jón Gnarr became mayor
Reykjavik citizens demonstrated their level of distrust in traditional politics and politicians by voting in comedian Jón Gnarr as their new mayor in last spring's local elections. Mr Gnarr's party, The Best Party, entered a coalition with the social democratic party Alliansen (Samfylkingin).
Sweden's Södertälje: a public-private solution to immigrant challenges
Södertälje in Sweden has more than 40 percent immigrants of foreign heritage. For some years the municipality received more refugees from war-ravaged Iraq than the USA and Canada combined, so it's had its share of challenges when it comes to jobs, accommodation and traditional solutions. The result: extensive co-operation between municipality and businesses, with input from trade unions.
Swedish Metall on trusting the adversary
"What you absolutely must not do during wage negotiations is to lie. You don't have to put all your cards on the table, but if you lie you loose all trust."
Trust in short supply in Finland
The welfare state is based on a system of trust where citizens take a lot of things more or less for granted. But there are fundamental changes going on. Researchers in Finland, for instance, say the country is rejecting the idea of integrating immigrants.
Denmark's massive bid for youth employment and education
Fighting youth unemployment is a top priority in Denmark. A range of new measures are in place to get more young people into education.
Youth unemployment: Iceland fights on many fronts
Unemployment used to be a relatively unknown phenomenon in Iceland. But it skyrocketed with the 2008 financial collapse.
Employers offered wage subsidies to hire young people in Finland
Finland's youth unemployment exploded last winter and is now nearly level with that of Spain. The government woke up to the fact in late spring and has introduced wage subsidies targeted at young school leavers and those who cannot find a job.
Iceland's 0utdated benefit system
The Icelandic Prime Minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, used her National Day speech to point out that most households were still struggling with the fallout of the 2008 economic collapse.
Italy's young hope to work before they're old
The path from higher education to a steady job is particularly painful in Italy. Many quit their studies or end up in long-term unemployment at the end of their studies. Teacher Francesca Seguela is happy to have a few hours of summer work after spending months unemployed.
OECD: Urgent measures needed to fight youth unemployment
Youth unemployment is rising dramatically and the trend is set to continue in 2011 according to the OECD. At the G20 meeting of labour ministers Stefano Scarpetta encouraged governments to act immediately. The first thing to do, he said, is to make sure youths have something to live off while they're unemployed.
The hidden costs of youth unemployment
Youth unemployment creates scars which follow people for the rest of their lives. One of the hidden costs of being unemployed when you're young is that decades later you take home less money than those who weren't unemployed when they were young. There is also the higher risk of becoming unemployed again, and many unemployed youths become marginalised with no links to work or school.
Swedish work environment tempts Chinese
Oscar Berger is Sweden's Counsellor of Labour Market Affairs in Beijing. His job is to study the Chinese labour market and employment issues for the future - including Chinese competence and labour immigration.
Swedish companies decide labour immigration
In December 2008 Sweden introduced new rules for labour immigration making it easier for employers to recruit labour from countries outside of the Nordic region and the EU. In the year following the change the number of people applying for work permits rose by 30 percent on the previous year.
Nordic region balancing the need for labour and risk of dumping
It's a balance all the Nordic countries need to strike when they want to attract highly competent labour: how do employers gain easier access to necessary manpower, and how should countries protect their labour markets against social dumping?
State helps attract foreign labour
A state-run web portal and three regional centres bring Danish companies and foreign job seekers together.
Joint Nordic drive for more foreign labour
Nordic cooperation could help market the region as an attractive labour market for highly educated third-country nationals.
Indians discover there's more to Denmark than dairies
Denmark opened a Workindenmark office in New Dehli in October 2008. Now some Indians are slowly getting to know about this Nordic country. Danish authorities are holding back a larger recruitment campaign until they have more knowledge about what career opportunities exist for Indians in Denmark.
Finland's welfare system appeals to Indian IT engineers
Indian IT engineers Naveen Kumar Korupolu (32) and Basa Ravikiran (33) arrived in Helsinki from Hyderabad with their families five years ago. They have successfully fought off both long, dark winters and cultural differences. Finns are nice and life feels safe.
Nordic measures for sustainable working life
In the last analysis, the great challenge for the Nordics is the survival of the welfare state. To meet this challenge, more people must be in work, and they must work for longer than before.
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