The Stockholm pilot, which replaces traditional work experience (prao) and is part of school education, will initially be implemented at three schools: Sätraskolan in Skärholmen, Enbacksskolan in Järva, and Vällingbyskolan in Hässelby/Vällingby. Students will work at real workplaces that the city has partnered with and receive pay according to collective agreements. To keep the job, students must maintain school attendance; excessive unauthorized absence can lead to suspension.
The initiative originally comes from the organization Next Generation Sweden. Similar models have been tested in other parts of Sweden with positive results. According to a named source, Evin Cetin is the founder of SAO jobs, a new employment form where eighth-graders in vulnerable areas get real jobs with pay for a full year. According to a named source, SAO jobs involve eighth-graders in socioeconomically vulnerable areas leaving the classroom two hours per week to go to a workplace during school time. According to a named source, students receive a monthly salary of 750 SEK from the employer. According to a named source, if schoolwork is not otherwise managed, the student can be temporarily suspended from the job. According to a named source, approximately 400 students are already working SAO jobs on six schools in Uppsala, Upplands Väsby, Sundsvall, Sundbyberg, and Västerås. According to a named source, Gothenburg city signed an agreement last week to introduce SAO jobs at two schools: Nytorpsskolan in Angered and Gamlestadsskolan.
All children growing up in Stockholm should be able to dream big dreams and get the chance to move forward in life, regardless of background.
According to a named source, the government will present a 30 million SEK state grant for SAO jobs to municipalities that start implementing them for high school students. According to a named source, 80 students in Helsingborg will get the chance to earn their first salary during school time through a new model. According to a named source, the Helsingborg model requires students to manage schoolwork or the job is lost.
At a press conference, Emilia Bjuggren, School City Councilor (Social Democrats), said: "All children growing up in Stockholm should be able to dream big dreams and get the chance to move forward in life, regardless of background." Andrea Hedin, Opposition City Councilor (Moderates), added: "This is the work line in practice to counteract segregation. It's about moving the starting line for children with tough upbringing conditions by giving a first line on the CV, and giving children a clear connection to the labor market from the start." Hedin also emphasized: "There should be a clear connection between school and working life. If you do your part at school, you also get this opportunity." Bjuggren noted: "The ambition is that this is just the beginning. If it turns out well, we want more students from more areas and schools to get the same chance."
This is the work line in practice to counteract segregation. It's about moving the starting line for children with tough upbringing conditions by giving a first line on the CV, and giving children a clear connection to the labor market from the start.
According to a named source, Evin Cetin described being inspired by a young person who challenged him to provide jobs rather than just talk. He explained that the goal is for students to build relationships, broaden their perspective on the future labor market, and learn what a job entails, including going on interviews and building relationships over a year. According to a named source, Johan Karlsson, Deputy Principal at Åkersviksskolan in Sundsvall, said the school is extremely pleased with the model, noting that students in seventh grade are already asking if they will get the opportunity, which serves as a motivator to manage school. According to a named source, 14-year-old student Allessia described the program as an opportunity for everyone, especially those who do not receive monthly allowance.
Several details remain unspecified. The specific companies participating in the Stockholm pilot have not been disclosed. The exact criteria for selecting the 200 students are unclear. How the effectiveness of SAO jobs will be measured has not been outlined. The timeline for the government's 30 million SEK grant is not yet known. It is also uncertain whether the Helsingborg model will be identical to the SAO jobs model.
There should be a clear connection between school and working life. If you do your part at school, you also get this opportunity.
The ambition is that this is just the beginning. If it turns out well, we want more students from more areas and schools to get the same chance.
There was a guy here in Gothenburg who influenced me tremendously. I had talked about hope for the future and then he took the mic and then he pointed at me and said: 'You are a talker. If you want to make a difference, give us jobs.'
They should build relationships. They should broaden their perspective on the future labor market, but they should learn. What does a job mean? What does it mean to go on a job interview? What does it mean to build relationships over a year?