The labor market has changed significantly over the past 40 years. There are fewer jobs in the manufacturing sector and more in the service sector. But exactly how significant are these changes? Who has won and who has lost as a result of this development? And which measures are the most suitable for helping those ending up in unemployment?
These questions are studied by the SNS Economic Policy Council 2023, headed by Peter Fredriksson, professor of economics at Uppsala University. He has extensive experience in research concerning the labor market and how people transition between different jobs. Three additional researchers are also included in the council: Georg Graetz, associate professor of economics at Uppsala University, Lena Hensvik, professor of economics at Uppsala University, and David Seim, professor of economics at Stockholm University.
“We are very pleased that four such qualified researchers are taking on this topic on behalf of SNS. It is important that we increase our knowledge regarding changes in the labor market, not least now as Sweden, according to most analysts, seems to be entering a recession,” says Ilinca Benson, CEO of SNS.
The researchers in the SNS Economic Policy Council study aspects such as how well different groups are able to adapt to the changing conditions in the labor market, as well as what this transformation means for the distribution of wealth and income in society. They also look toward the future and present an outline of what an increased use of artificial intelligence could mean for the demand for labor.
“Basically, transformations in the labor market represent a prerequisite for good growth and productivity. However, individuals and groups vary greatly in their ability to manage such changes. In this report, we as researchers present an outline of what can be done to mitigate the consequences of these changes,” says Peter Fredriksson, chair of the SNS Economic Policy Council.
The SNS Economic Policy Council Report 2023 is funded with support from the Jan Wallander and Tom Hedelius Foundation.
Each year, SNS appoints a group of researchers who, referred to as the SNS Economic Policy Council, analyze how the Swedish economy operates over time in relation to key issues. Based on their conclusions, the researchers then make recommendations to politicians and occasionally to other decision-makers.
The SNS Economic Policy Council has existed since 1974 and more than a hundred researchers have participated so far. The authors of these reports are responsible for analyses, conclusions and suggestions. SNS as an organization does not take a position in relation to these.
Peter Fredriksson is a professor of economics at Uppsala University. He is director of Uppsala Center for Labor Studies (UCLS), member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and is affiliated with the Institute of Labour Economics (IZA) in Bonn, CESIfo in Munich, and the Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy (IFAU) in Uppsala.
Georg Graetz is an associate professor of economics at Uppsala University. He is also affiliated with UCLS, Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) in London, CESIfo, IZA and IFAU.
Lena Hensvik is a professor of economics at Uppsala University. She is editor of the journal Labour Economics and also affiliated with UCLS, IFAU, and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) in London.
David Seim is a professor of economics at Stockholm University. He is editor of the Journal of Public Economics and also affiliated with UCLS, IZA, and CEPR.
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