Labour market security and insecurity: Changes in Swedish labour market

The Swedish labour market has been known for its Rehn-Meidner model, where the restructuring effects of solidaristic wage policies have been complemented by extensive income security and active labour market and training policies. Changes in income security schemes and the unemployment insurance system, alongside reductions in active labour market policies and more lax regulation of temporary employment have since the 1990s modified the security-enhancing elements of the model. With the recession after the financial crisis, the renewed Swedish model was put to a severe test, at the same time as job-competition has increased in the wake of EU enlargement. Based on a survey study conducted in Sweden and two other Nordic countries in 2011, this paper will analyse worker perceptions of employment, income and job security and insecurity, and of central labour market institutions, and how they vary between different employee groups and exposure to labour market dispruptions. The paper will also contrast the Swedish findings with those in the other Nordic countries, and discuss how these may be influenced by changes in policies and institutions.