The number of newly registered employees at the Employment Service continued to increase last week and unemployment reached 8.9 per cent. Among young people, unemployment is as high as 12.9 percent.

The effects of the corona pandemic have caused high pressure throughout the spring on the authority. From week 10 to week 25, ie from the beginning of March until midsummer, 217,000 people signed up as unemployed. This is almost a doubling compared to last year, when 112,000 people became unemployed during the same period.

Continued high pressure

The authority now expects many to be unemployed during the summer, as many of the spring's notifications are expected to be canceled. Therefore, management has asked employees to move or shorten their vacations in order to help newly enrolled.

- It is to meet the need that we look forward to. We still have a huge pressure and high volumes of newly registered customers who become unemployed, ”says Carina Göransson, who is the head of the Personal Distance Meeting at the Employment Service, the department that has the most contact with newly registered.

- It will not be a quiet summer, but the pressure will last.

Compensated for relocated vacation

She thinks that about 100 to 200 would need to move on their vacations. The response seems to have been enough, so far 200 people have replied that they can move their holiday. Those who move the holiday during week 29 to 32 are offered a compensation of SEK 1800 per day, or SEK 9,000 per week.

In addition to this, the Swedish Employment Service will employ up to 120 consultants. About 30 employees are borrowed from the Swedish Migration Board and will employ approximately 350 people during the year. The focus is on helping those who are newly registered unemployed.

- Right now, we prioritize ensuring that the newly enrolled customers get their job search started, says Carina Göransson.