Gaps increasing among young
Times are getting better in Sweden for those already established in the job market. But the growing group of long-term unemployed is falling behind, and according to a new report the gaps between young people in Sweden are growing. Says Ungdomsstyrelsen’s (the National Board for Youth Affairs) investigator Anna Westin: “Those who have jobs are doing better, but if you are a student, unemployed or on the sick-list, you are falling behind.” According to the report, titled “Ung 2012” (Young 2012), the median income for people aged 18 to 25 has increased 12 percent since 2006, but there has at the same time been an increase in the number of people living in low financial standards, an increase of 26 percent. Those belonging to that group have an available income that is sometimes as much as 60 percent below that of the average income. “For some, their income is very low,” says Westin. “Under 60 percent, and that is of course difficult to live on, at the same time it must be difficult to sit and watch other young people doing better and better.” Even employment numbers show an increase in different groups of young people. The total youth unemployment decreased somewhat between 2010 and 2011, but the number of young people registered at Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish Public Employment Service) has increased in over two years by all of 63 percent.