Despite promises of quick action - few Ukrainian refugees in work

On board the ferries that came to Nynäshamn last spring, there were thousands of Ukrainians - and already at the quay some of them were met by a minister.    

- We have lots of vacant jobs right now and I see that there is a great opportunity here, said the then labor market minister Eva Nordmark (S) on site in Nynäshamn.  

But since then things have been slow.

Of the roughly 30,000 Ukrainians of working age who came to Sweden, just under 1,500 have found work with the help of the Employment Agency.    

- We have limited opportunities to offer support.

But it's also about the fact that we have to reach out with information about the support we can offer, says Therese Lindström, head of unit at Arbetsförmedlingen.

Not familiar with the Employment Service

In April last year, they were commissioned by the government to inform the refugees from Ukraine about the labor market in Sweden.

Despite that, several of those SVT speaks to are not familiar with the Public Employment Service. 

- We have more work to do, it goes without saying that we must make sure that people know what the Employment Service is, says Therese Lindström.  

There are no statistics on how many have found work on their own, but a survey by the organization Ukrainian Professional Support Center shows that almost seven out of ten Ukrainians in Sweden are unemployed, even though nine out of ten want a job.

Cannot offer internship

Ukrainians who come to Sweden have the right to stay here according to the so-called mass refugee directive.

But they are not registered in the population register, nor do they get a social security number.  

- This means, for example, that we cannot offer internships, because they do not have the required insurance cover, says Therese Lindström.  

Without a social security number, it is also difficult to obtain a bank account and bank ID.  

Even the current Labor Market and Integration Minister Johan Pehrson (L) has stated that more needs to be done.  

- Everyone is a winner if we make it easier for these people to get a job, he said in February. 

Hear more from Labor Market and Integration Minister Johan Pehrson (L) in Tuesday's Aktuellt, at 21.00 on SVT2 or on SVT Play.