Welcome to the Conference on Inclusive Employment in Sweden, April 15–16 in Stockholm. This conference will bring us together to explore how we can help more people find work through more coordinated support and social innovation. We will exchange knowledge and share experiences on how to reduce unemployment and social exclusion, combat discrimination, and increase accessibility for everyone in the Swedish labor market.
Unemployment in Sweden is high compared to the rest of the EU. And this is particularly noticeable among certain groups. Unemployment is significantly higher among young people aged 15–24 and among those born abroad compared to those born in Sweden. Long-term unemployment also remains at high levels, meaning that many people still struggle to gain a foothold in the labor market.
What is needed to get more people into work in Sweden? How do we coordinate support for the unemployed at the municipal, regional, and national levels? How can we collaborate across sectors and break down silos between agencies, organizations, sectors, and fields of research? How can we strengthen policy support and influence the factors and structures that affect unemployment in Sweden? What solutions work? How can we finance, highlight, share, and scale these ideas, approaches, and methods?
National Competence Centre for Social Innovation
The conference is being organized as part of the efforts to
National Competence Centre for Social Innovation consisting of
Coompanion Sweden,
Famna,
National Network of Coordination Associations and
Forum for Social Innovation Sweden. Together, we work to strengthen knowledge, support, and structures for social innovation across the country—with the goal of contributing to a more inclusive workplace. The Center operates on behalf of
Swedish ESF Council and the program is funded by the European Union through
European Social Fund.
Practical Information
Date and time: April 15–16, 2026
April 15, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
April 16, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: The Post Office, 28 Vasagatan, Stockholm
Registration: Sign up here, by April 3. Learn more about the conference
here.
Cost: There is no charge to attend the conference
Conference dinner: All conference participants are warmly invited to sign up for the group dinner on the evening of April 15. A three-course dinner will be served at cost (850 SEK excl. VAT, to be invoiced), and drinks will be available for purchase on site.
Program
Wednesday, April 15
9:30 a.m. Registration and coffee break
10:00 AM The vision of an inclusive workplace — it’s about you and me!
Måns Montell, Chair of NNS, and Anna Tengqvist, National and International Coordinator at Forum for Social Innovation Sweden at Malmö University, welcome everyone and introduce today’s moderators.
Mattias Bergström, NNS staff support representative and association director at the Central Östergötland Coordination Association, Henrik Svedberg, NNS staff support and association director at the Älv & Kust Coordination Association, and Ida Olofsson, editor ofVälfärdsguidenwith personal experience of coordinated support, will open the conference with a focus on the conditions and opportunities for an inclusive working life from the perspectives of the individual, the organization, and society.
10:45 a.m. The Role of Policy in Achieving an Inclusive Workplace
Members of Parliament Åsa Eriksson (Social Democrats), Caroline Högström (Moderates), and Anders W Jonsson (Center Party) share their views on an inclusive workplace and how the future of Finsam and social innovation can serve as tools for achieving that vision.
Anders Henriksson, chair of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR), shares his thoughts on an inclusive workplace in Sweden.
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Social Innovation from an Individual Perspective
Anna Tengqvist, National and International Coordinator at Forum for Social Innovation Sweden at Malmö University, provides a brief introduction to what social innovation is and how it can be used to achieve the vision of an inclusive workplace.
Ulrica Persson, chair ofSkoopi, the trade association for work-integrated social enterprises, provides examples of how social change is possible and how individuals can and will succeed if only given the right conditions. Anna Ytell and Henrik Ström share their experiences and reflections on the journey from the impossible to the possible.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions.
2:00 p.m. Swedish Labor Market Policy
Allan Larsson, former Director General of the Swedish Public Employment Service (AMS), Minister of Finance, and Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment (DG Employment). Lars Sjöström, former County Labor Director in Stockholm and Deputy Director General of the Swedish Public Employment Service, along with Mats Wadman, former Under-Secretary of State, Director General of Statistics Sweden (SCB), and Head of Analysis at the Swedish Public Employment Service, present their reportCompetence for Sweden. The authors note that unemployment is high and job matching is weak, despite numerous reforms, and instead propose a national framework featuring strengthened active labor market policies and local contracts between the state, municipalities, regions, and social partners.
There will be an opportunity to ask the authors questions after the presentation.
2:45 PM Coffee break
3:15 p.m. The Job Festival — an example of how inclusion is possible
Mats Wernheim, CEO and founder, talks about his initiative,the Job Festival, which focuses on diversity and inclusion; about moving from words to action; and how this has led to the work currently underway in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö aimed at increasing diversity and reducing the risk of discrimination.
3:45 p.m. Panel discussion with labor market partners on the vision of achieving an inclusive workplace
The panel consists of:
- Petter Skogar, CEO ofFremia, an employers' organization representing employers in the cooperative sector, civil society, and the non-profit welfare sector.
- Jessica Forss Katz, an economic policy expert atKompetensföretagen, an industry and employer organizationwithin Almegarepresenting companies active in recruitment, workforce transition, and staffing.
- Mattias Samuelsson, researcher specializing in workforce supply, labor market policy, and workplace crime forLO, the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions representing workers in the private, public, and municipal sectors.
4:25 p.m. New Social Fund Program for an Inclusive Workplace
Mikael Sandström, Director General of the Swedish ESF Council, discusses the opportunities offered by the European Social Fund in the new programming period and social innovations for an inclusive workplace.
5:00 PM Closing
6:00 PM Networking
7:00 p.m. Conference dinner
In the evening, a three-course dinner will be served at cost. Please register for the dinner using the registration form. The cost (850 SEK, excluding VAT) will be billed. Beverages for dinner can be purchased on site.
Thursday, April 16
8:30 a.m. Reflections on yesterday
9:00 a.m. Workshop
Focus on the opportunities and conditions for labor market stakeholders to work together toward an inclusive workplace from various perspectives, including the future of Finsam, Competence Centre for Social Innovation National Competence Centre for Social Innovation, recommendations for upcoming calls for proposals, and the new programming period for the European funds.
9:30 a.m. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s perspective on an inclusive workplace and the future of Finsam
Nils Öberg, Director General of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, shares his views and the Agency’s perspective on an inclusive workplace and the future of Finsam.
10:00 AM Coffee break
10:20 a.m. How Finsam and social innovations can be used in labor market policy to promote an inclusive workforce
Ardalan Shekarabi, the Social Democrats’ spokesperson on labor market policy, and Caroline Högström, a member of the Riksdag for the Moderate Party, share their views on an inclusive workplace in Sweden.
11:00 a.m. Workshop
Continued focus on opportunities and conditions for labor market stakeholders to work together toward an inclusive workplace from various perspectives, including the future Finsam, Competence Centre for Social Innovation National Competence Centre for Social Innovation, requests for upcoming calls for proposals, and the new programming period for European funds.
11:45 a.m. Summary and closing remarks
12:00 p.m. Lunch
Moderators
Anna Juhlin, politician, Sollentuna Municipality, (C)
Majo Brostedt, politician, Eskilstuna Municipality, (S)
Sandra Svensson, politician, Öckerö Municipality, (M)
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