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Swedish Student Union Proposes Unemployment Insurance for Graduates, Faces Government Criticism

Key Points
  • Saco student union proposes unemployment insurance for recent graduates in Sweden.
  • Statistics show one in four June 2025 graduates had income below study allowance four months later.
  • Labor Market Minister Johan Britz opposes the proposal, citing concerns about longer unemployment periods.

The Swedish student union Saco has proposed introducing unemployment insurance for recent graduates, citing difficulties students face finding employment after completing their studies. According to statistics from Statistics Sweden, one in four students who graduated in June 2025 had an after-tax income below the study allowance level four months later. Saco's proposal would give graduated students the right to unemployment benefits, similar to a system already implemented in Denmark where such measures reportedly helped more students find work and reduced their unemployment periods.

Collin Andersson, chairman of Saco's student council, stated that in Denmark, graduates don't feel completely abandoned by society if they're unemployed after completing their education. However, Labor Market Minister Johan Britz (Liberal Party) criticized the proposal, saying there are better solutions to the problem. Britz expressed concern that young people living on benefits tend to remain unemployed for longer periods, based on Swedish experience.

He says there are better solutions to the problem.

Johan Britz, Labor Market Minister of the Liberal Party

Collin Andersson, chairman of Saco's student council, says that in Denmark, students do not feel completely abandoned by society if they are without work after graduation.

Collin Andersson, Chairman of Saco's student council

However, Minister Johan Britz believes the proposal is not a good idea, stating that Sweden's experience shows young people on benefits become unemployed for longer periods.

Johan Britz, Minister

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