- The situation is strained. We were in a situation with major reductions last year, we laid off a lot of people and now the corona pandemic is coming on, ”says the Public Employment Director General Maria Mindhammar.

Since March 1, the Swedish Employment Service has received more than 109,000 new unemployed. At the same time last year was turbulent. Almost 3,000 people were laid off or quit themselves, local offices were closed and the authority is in the middle of a reorganization.

Reformation is being pushed forward

Next year, a reduction of appropriations to the Employment Service is planned by SEK 700 million. However, that reduction was based on the reform of the Employment Service, which is now postponed.

- We want to mitigate that reduction. After all, the reform has been postponed for a year, says Maria Mindhammar.

- I have demanded 700 million for next year, not in increased funds but in smaller reductions.

Now, people gather to help the newly enrolled. Up to 400 people will be hired.

The union: "We patch and fix"

Trade union ST warns of great concern among staff, both about how the work situation today and how it will be in the future.

- You fight and hold your nose above the water surface, but it's a tough situation, says Fredrik Andersson, chairman of ST at the Employment Service.

- We patch and cook a lot. There are too few resources, which means that we move staff from one direction to another, but there are always holes. We have a shortage of staff.

The situation also risks that those who are already far from the labor market end up even further away. By March, more than 150,000 people had been enrolled as unemployed over a year.

Jobs can disappear

- In this situation, we must prioritize new registrations. It is also difficult to get the jobseekers out on internships and subsidized jobs, because Sweden has largely closed, says Maria Mindhammar.

- Now, there are people who are ahead of the sex in terms of experience and education, so they have to get on their feet.

Maria Mindhammar believes that those who now become unemployed should review whether they have the right skills for the future.

- All the works that existed before the corona will probably not remain in the future. So this is a great opportunity to look at your own situation and look ahead.