Background information

The legislation has its background in labour market shortages of several occupations which require vocational training. There has been a decline of applicants to vocational trade schools both at high school and adult level, and a lack of coordination between municipalities offering vocational education.

This new structure is to increase coordination between municipalities to have a more even offer of programs at high school and adult level, as well as adding additional quality controls to the system.

Content of measure

The new regulation has multiple points. Firstly, labour market needs will be considered to a higher degree when planning and dimensioning the access to high school and vocational education. To do this, the education provider will have to apply to the municipalities for a license to offer certain vocational programmes at high school and adult education levels. The approval then depends on the student demand for the programme, as well as the labour market needs.

Additionally, municipalities must coordinate with at least two other municipalities about planning, dimensioning, and offer of VET with a “primary cooperation area”. Within this area, students are free to apply for the vocational education. Previously, the primary area in which a prospective student should seek education is within their own municipality, however, there are several exceptions to this rule, such as if the programme the student applies for is not available in their municipality. To facilitate this, the municipalities' have an obligation to provide support for daily travel must also cover students under 16 years of age.

Finally, the region will have a responsibility to assess the regions labour market needs within both the public and private sectors, in both the short and long term. They are also responsible for clarifying which jobs various programmes can lead to and which programmes are available.

Use of measure

The measure has been adopted but is in force from early 2025.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Other businesses	Students

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies Local / regional government	National funds Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

The social partners were consulted in the design phase of the legislation. As is customary, each relevant actor has a chance to submit their written comments and either approval or dismissal on the legislation. These comments are highlighted in the government proposition. This applies not only to the social partners, but also to the regions, municipalities and other relevant actors.

Views and reactions

The main employer organisation involved, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), expressed criticism of the legislation, stating that many municipalities may struggle to coordinate their education offer with two other municipalities and dismissed the proposal. SALAR questioned the need for legislation as a way to foster coordination on the local level. The Teachers union also expressed criticism of the requirement to have three municipalities coordinate, however they state that three municipailities in many cases is a too small unit, and instead requested a higher level of state responsibility for the dimensioning of education.

Most social partners were however positive to the extension of the offer of education at the municipal level, and the approval of new programmes being based on regional labour market needs.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 17 March 2022: Dimensionering av gymnasial utbildning för bättre kompetensförsörjning (www.regeringen.se)