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Sweden: Young and Unemployed

September 6, 2010

One in three young people in Sweden doesn't have a job. It's become a political hot potato in this election year, as the current government came to power on promises to combat youth unemployment.

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Jugendarbeitslosigkeit
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Youth unemployment in Sweden is extremely high -- a bad sign for a society which prides itself on its welfare state. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt had promised to find jobs for young people. But after some initial success the global economic crisis hit and the situation worsened. Sweden's employers' association says there are two major reasons why so many youths are without work: starting wages are too high and vocational training is not suited to employers' needs. In future, companies are supposed to play a greater role in education and job training.