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National Initiatives Concerning the Career Guidance/Information/Vocational Counselling - Sweden
Source: European Union
Vocational guidance run by job centres is mostly for unemployed adults or adults who risk becoming unemployed, except for the Infotek service. Job centres provide vocational guidance, information on jobs and professional rehabilitation. Tools include various employment programs like apprenticeships, vocational training etc.. There are 300 job centres in Sweden reporting to Länsarbetsnämnden (LAN) (employment boards) who report to Arbetsmarknadsverket (the Labour Market Administration). Immigrants with permanent residence permits can use the same services as Swedish citizens. There are special introductory and vocational courses for immigrants. The municipality organises special language courses in Swedish for immigrants. Immigrants receive assistance in translating their qualifications into Swedish equivalents.
Private vocational and study guidance services first appeared in Sweden in the last decade. Private centres offer recruiting and mediation services, vocational guidance and various courses on the Internet e.g. www.manpower.se and www.prooffice.se.
ALT is a national, revenue financed consultant organisation within Arbetsmarknadsverket (the Labour Market Administration). ALT services are provided in all counties. Operations are specialised in personnel development and job-oriented rehabilitation of employees. By improving employee skills, ALT help companies become more competitive. Through different methods such as individual or group guidance, people are helped back to the labour market, either to their existing or another employer.
ALT offers the following services:
Most job-centres in Sweden have Infotek, open to all, irrespective of whether or not people have a job. Services are free and do not have to be booked. Infotek provides information on professions, education, study support, the labour market and opportunities to test own professional interests. Information about studying and jobs abroad are included. All information is available in written and data based form. Access to the Internet is available. And if help is required a vocational counsellor is available.
TRR ( Employment Security Council)
TRR services are available to private company members. The operation is based on a trade union agreement between the SAF (The Swedish Employers' Confederation) and PTK (Negotiation Cartel for Salaried Employees in the Private Business Sector) over job rehabilitation. The operation is financed by fees calculated according to the total payroll for employees covered by the agreement.
Companies can use TRR for redundant employees, those who risk becoming unemployed or who are considering accepting an offer to resign voluntarily. TRR offers advice, support and guidance in regard to new jobs or starting own companies.
TRR services:
This organisation was founded by the government and the civil service trade unions. The objective is to prevent civil servants faced with redundancy from becoming unemployed. The foundation can participate in preventive measures aimed at enabling civil servants facing redundancy to be able to continue to work with different duties but with the same employer.
The foundation can assist with:
The program is designed primarily for unemployed adults who have no or an incomplete upper secondary education. The basic concept being for adults in the greatest need of education to be given the opportunity to acquire more knowledge. Additionally, employees with short educations can qualify for studying with the program. All education within the program is oriented towards individual wishes, needs and aptitudes. The great importance of counselling is emphasised. Professional guidance is available prior to and during the study courses. Counselling shall assist in shaping an individual curriculum, clarifying the purpose of the participants course of study, and the method by which this objective is to be attained.
Program students can apply for special education grants equal to the unemployment benefits the student would otherwise have received. To obtain this grant the student must collect unemployment benefit, be at least 25 and no older than 55. Grants are applied for from CSN (Central Student Grants Committee).
During 1999 - 2000, two hundred and sixty six people in Östersund, who were employed, have received special education grants.
All education institutions (local government adult education schemes, independent adult education colleges, universities) provide vocational and study guidance.
Opportunities for company supplied counselling vary depending on company size. Large companies like Ericsson and ABB have their own careers centres for helping company employees continue with their career planning.
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