At the end of 2022 nearly 75 percent of those registered unemployed at the Swedish Public Employment Service [PES] was considered to belong to the category of long term unemployed with weak competitiveness in the labour market. This group of individuals is often aligned with numerous complex needs. To counteract and end unemployment in this group the PES need comprehensive collaborations with other actors.    The aim of this study is to examine and compare how the Swedish PES and the local labour market offices in three Swedish municipalities collaborate and communicate regarding the local job tracks. The study is limited to three questions: How does the PES and the municipality collaborate around the local job tracks? What prerequisites must be in place to facilitate the communication that successful collaboration requires? What factors affect the prerequisites of communications both positively and negatively?   To answer our questions, we have used a qualitative method and interviewed three respondents in each of the three municipalities. To analyse our results, we’ve used the terms regulations, organisations, point of view and relational power taken from two theories of collaboration developed by sociologist Berth Danermark.    Our findings show that the prerequisite needed to facilitate the communication that successful collaboration needs are clearly defined guidelines in the written agreements around communication, clearly organised communicative roles as well as continued dialogue to create shared points of view and reflection.

This study investigates the interplay between institutional structures, organizational culture, and the efficacy of employment initiatives, focusing on the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) and its implementation of subsidized employment programs known as "nystartsjobb."  Through qualitative interviews and analysis of existing literature, the study examines how external institutional pressures shape Arbetsförmedlingen's approach to addressing potential exploitation within “nystartsjobb” placements. Findings reveal a complex dynamic wherein the organization navigates formal and informal norms of the labor market while striving to maintain legitimacy and public trust.  Despite acknowledging the risk of employer exploitation, respondents note a lack of proactive measures to prevent exploitation, with interventions typically triggered by specific complaints or suspicions. Furthermore, the study highlights internal organizational attitudes, with nystartsjobb often viewed as a short-term support mechanism rather than a pathway to sustainable employment. The absence of systematic follow-up exacerbates this issue, hindering the program's ability to fulfill long-term employment goals.  Ultimately, the study underscores the significance of both institutional structures and organizational culture in shaping the implementation and outcomes of employment policies, while also prompting considerations for future research on program effectiveness and sustainability.

Arbetsmarknadspolitiken har historiskt sett varit både ett kommunalt och statligt ansvar som från mitten av 1900-talet koncentrerats till en statlig nivå och till myndigheten Arbetsförmedlingen. Både forskning och statliga utredningar har konstaterat att kommuner mer och mer tagit sig an arbetet med arbetsmarknadspolitik och idag har merparten av Sveriges kommuner en arbetsmarknadsavdelning med fokus på insatser för arbetssökande. Vår forskningsöversikt och de utredningar som presenterats som vår empiri visar att det råder en oklar ansvarsfördelning mellan stat och kommun inom arbetsmarknadspolitiken. Vi har presenterat tidigare forskning på området arbetsmarknadspolitik som både avhandlat ansvarsfrågan gällande Arbetsförmedlingen och kommunerna, men även mellan organisation och individ. Denna uppsats har, genom en teorikonsumerande ansats, undersökt denna oklara ansvarsfördelning med fokus på kommuner och Arbetsförmedlingen. Genom det teoretiska ramverket institutionella logiker har vi studerat offentliga utredningar gällande organiseringen av arbetsmarknadspolitiken samt remissvar från berörda aktörer. Resultatet av studien har visat att dessa aktörer formulerar ansvar utifrån olika institutionella logiker som i många fall är motstridiga. Uppsatsen bidrar vidare till att ge en bild av vad dessa logiker ger för ingång till ansvarsbegreppet och förklarar olika möjliga orsaker till att ansvaret kan ses som oklart. / Labour market policy has historically been both a municipal and state responsibility, which since the mid-20th century has been concentrated at the state level and managed by the Public Employment Service. Both research and government inquiries have found that municipalities have increasingly taken on the work of labour market policy, and today the majority of Sweden's municipalities have a labour market department focused on measures for job seekers. Our research overview and the inquiries presented as our empirical data show that there is an unclear division of responsibilities between the state and municipalities in labour market policy. We have presented previous research in the area of labour market policy, which has addressed the issue of responsibility concerning the Public Employment Service and municipalities, as well as between organization and individual. This thesis, through a theory-consuming approach, has examined this unclear division of responsibilities with a focus on municipalities and the Public Employment Service. Through the theoretical framework of institutional logics, we have studied Swedish Government Official Reports regarding the organization of labour market policy and responses from relevant stakeholders. The study's results have shown that these stakeholders formulate responsibilities based on different institutional logics, which are often conflicting. The thesis further contributes by providing an understanding of what these logics imply for the concept of responsibility and explains various possible reasons why responsibility can be perceived as unclear.

This study aims to examine which mechanisms affect young adults' trust in authorities, with a focus on capital composition, and specifically cultural capital (education). Through this focus on capital, the study examines the underlying factors that affect what requirements that young adults feel that they can demand of/put on authorities. The data material has been collected through six interviews with young adults aged 20–30 who are, or during the past year have been, registered at the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) in Stockholm, Sweden. The reference framework that formed the basis for the analysis consists of Pierre Bourdieu's capital theory and the concept of habitus, in addition to Max Weber's theories on status and accumulation of opportunities. The results of the study shows that capital composition correlates with trust level, but that the level of trust also relates to which extent an authority meets the expectations that exist around their services. Moreover, the results show that the level of trust correlates with the level of risk the young adult must take to trust authority. / Denna uppsats är en kvalitativ intervjustudie som syftar till att undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkar unga vuxnas tillitsnivå till myndigheter, med inriktning på kapitalsammansättning och framförallt kulturellt kapital (utbildning). Dessutom undersöker studien vilka bakomliggande faktorer som påverkar vilka krav unga vuxna upplever att de kan ställa på myndigheter, även detta med fokus på olika typer av kapital. Datamaterialet har samlats in genom sex intervjuer med unga vuxna i åldern 20–30 år som är, eller under det senaste året varit, inskrivna på Arbetsförmedlingen i Stockholms stad. Den referensram som legat till grund för analysarbetet har bestått av Pierre Bourdieus kapitalteori och begreppet habitus samt av Max Webers teorier kring status och möjlighetsansamling. Resultaten av studien visar att kapitalsammansättning korrelerar med tillitsnivå, men att nivån av tillit också har att göra med i vilken utsträckning myndigheter uppfyller de förväntningar som existerar kring deras tjänster. Dessutom visar resultatet att nivån av tillit korrelerar med hur stor risk det innebär för individen att hysa tillit till myndigheten.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka måluppfyllelsen av etableringsreformen, som trädde i kraft den 1 december 2010, samt aktören etableringslotsens funktion inom denna reform. Detta görs utifrån de uttalade målsättningarna i regeringens proposition 2009/10:60 Nyanlända invandrares arbetsmarknadsetablering – egenansvar med professionellt stöd. Därutöver belyses vilka hinder som finns för målens uppfyllelse. Studien baseras på rapporter och andra dokument från offentliga myndigheter, vilka bland annat kompletteras med egeninsamlad data. Primärdatan bygger på intervjuer som genomförts med fyra handläggare på Arbetsförmedlingen och fyra etableringslotsar som är verksamma i Linköping och Norrköping, samt en mailintervju med Arbetsförmedlingen på central nivå. Resultaten tolkas utifrån institutionell ekonomisk teori med fokus på teorier av Douglass North.Studien visar bland annat att likvärdigheten av etableringsinsatserna har ökat över landet och att arbetsmarknadsperspektivet är tydligare med Arbetsförmedlingen som huvudansvarig istället för kommunerna. Dock lider etableringsreformen av icke-individanpassade etableringsinsatser och en hög samordningsproblematik. Detta drabbar i slutänden de nyanlända som redan möter höga barriärer vid etablering i det svenska samhället. Även externa faktorer påverkar etableringsarbetet och de möjligheter som ges till de nyanlända. Framförallt är det bostadssituationen som påverkar olika ledtider och begränsar de nyanländas möjligheter till deltagande i etableringsinsatserna.De ekonomiska incitamenten för etableringslotsarna att fylla sin tilltänkta funktion är för låga och fokus från lotsarna läggs på socialt stöd istället för arbetsförberedande insatser för den nyanlände. Innovationer från positiv konkurrens har till stora delar uteblivit. Systemet innehåller även vissa brister som tillåter oseriösa eller opportunistiska etableringslotsar att verka, vilka sänker kvaliteten på etableringsarbetet och försämrar de nyanländas möjligheter till etablering på arbetsmarknaden. / The aim of the study is to assess the compliance between the goals and the results of the Establishment reform, which entered into force on December 1st 2010, and the role of the participant called the Introduction guide. This assessment is done on the basis of the goals in the proposition from the Swedish government 2009/10:60 Nyanlända invandrares arbetsmarknadsetablering – egenansvar med professionellt stöd. In addition the obstacles to achieving the goals are highlighted. The study is based on reports and other documents from public bodies that are supplemented by, amongst others, the primary data of the study. This primary data consists of interviews with four employees at the Public Employment Service and four Introduction guides in Linköping and Norrköping as well as of mail correspondence with the Public Employment Service at a central level. The results are interpreted using New Institutional Economic Theory, focusing on the theories by Douglass North.The study shows, among other things, that the differences between various establishment activities have diminished, and that there is a stronger labour market focus now that the Public Employment Service has taken over the responsibility from the municipalities. However, the Establishment reform does suffer from a lack of individually adapted establishment activities as well from a failure in collaboration and coordination. This ultimately afflicts the new arrivals, which are already facing high barriers while trying to become a part of the Swedish society. External factors also affect the establishment process and the possibilities for new arrivals. It is foremost the living situation that is affecting different lead times and limiting the immigrants possibilities to participate in establishment activities.The economic incentives for the Introduction guides to fill their intended function are too low and the guides are primarily providing social support for the new arrivals instead of labour market oriented activities. Innovations as a result of competition are largely absent. The system contains various flaws that allow for flippant or opportunistic Introduction guides, which in turn lowers the quality of the Establishment work and worsens the new arrivals’ chances of getting established on the labour market.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine advantages and barriers that can appear when the municipal employment service and daily activity center work together in close collaboration. The study is based on semi-structured interviews with managers and employees in three municipalities in Värmland. The questions were:  How does the municipal employment service and the daily activity center work together?  Are the respondents experiencing any barriers in the collaboration processes between the municipal employment service and daily activity center?  Are the respondents experiencing any advantages when the municipal employment service and daily activity center work close together? If so, are the advantages primarily economical, professional or individual?  Does the collaboration processes in the three municipalities reflect the factors that supports as well as impedes collaboration that Danemark and Kullberg´s identified in their report (1999)? The results are analyzed from the new-institutional theory by Grapes (2006) and the factors that support and impede collaboration by Danemark & Kullberg (1999). The study shows three completely different ways of collaboration. In Hagfors the two sectors collaborate primarily in daily job tasks, in Grums there are no collaboration at all and in Kristinehamn they collaborate at some extent regarding external work training sites. Furthermore, the results show some of the barriers the municipalities experience such as inadequate information, differences in knowledge as well as economy. The respondents could see great advantages for the individual in enhanced quality, teamwork among staff and in work performance. The summary that compiles factors who supports and impedes collaboration shows that in comparison, Hagfors is best prepared when it comes to collaboration between the two sectors and Grums is least equipped for working together.

The Swedish Public Employment Service's reform based on the so-called January agreement from 2019 has since its initiation been an ongoing issue in the Swedish public debate. As a result of the reform, several municipalities have expressed experiences that the operational cooperation in individual cases has deteriorated. The experiences are significant, as cooperation between the Swedish Public Employment Service, municipalities and other actors has been described as a prerequisite for realizing labor market policy. The purpose of the thesis is therefore to study what the operational labor market policy cooperation in individual cases looks like in four Swedish municipalities and how municipal officials perceive that the conditions for this cooperation are affected by the Public Employment Service's reform. This through a qualitative interview study, with a strategic selection of municipalities. The study is thus based on a local perspective and the selection of municipalities is made in order to cover several contextual factors that could potentially affect the municipal experiences. The theoretical starting points are taken from the theory of interorganizational cooperation. The result shows consistent experience in all the municipalities interviewed that the conditions for the interorganizational operational cooperation in individual cases at the local level being negatively affected by the Swedish Public Employment Service's reform. Both in terms of cooperation between the municipalities and the Public Employment Service as well as between the municipalities and independent actors (in cases where they cooperated before the reform). The main reason for the deteriorating cooperation is described as a changed local presence, reduced contact areas and reduced personal relationships at the administrator level. These factors have also been identified by the municipal representatives as the most important factors to address in order for there to be an appropriate and well-functioning cooperation. / Arbetsförmedlingens reformering med utgångspunkt i den så kallade Januariöverenskommelsen från 2019 har sedan dess initiering varit en pågående fråga i den svenska samhällsdebatten. Till följd av reformen har flera kommuner uttryckt erfarenheter av att det operativa samverkan i individärenden försämrats. Erfarenheterna är betydelsefulla eftersom samverkan mellan Arbetsförmedlingen, kommuner och andra aktörer beskrivits som en förutsättning för att realisera arbetsmarknadspolitiken. Syftet med uppsatsen är därför att studera hur den operativa arbetsmarknadspolitiska samverkan i individärenden ser ut i fyra svenska kommuner samt hur kommunala tjänstepersoner uppfattar att förutsättningarna för denna samverkan påverkats av Arbetsförmedlingens reformering. Detta genom en kvalitativ intervjustudie, med ett strategiskt urval av kommuner utifrån kommunernas geografiska position och hur Arbetsförmedlingen valt att arrangera myndighetens lokala närvaro. Studien utgår därmed från ett lokalt perspektiv och urvalet av kommuner görs i syfte att täcka in flera kontextuella faktorer som potentiellt kan påverka de kommunala erfarenheterna. Studiens resultat visar på samstämmiga erfarenheter hos de intervjudade kommunföreträdarna om att förutsättningarna för den interorganisatoriska operativa samverkan i individärenden på lokal nivå påverkats negativt av Arbetsförmedlingens reformering. Både när det gäller samverkan mellan kommunerna och Arbetsförmedlingen samt mellan kommunerna och fristående aktörer (i de fall de samverkat innan reformen). De främsta orsakerna till den försämrade samverkan beskrivs vara Arbetsförmedlingens förändrade lokala närvaro, minskade kontaktytor och minskade personliga relationer på handläggarnivå. Faktorerna har utifrån de intervjuade kommunföreträdarna identifierats som viktiga för att främja en ändamålsenlig och välfungerande samverkan.

Examensarbetets syfte var att belysa och bidra till kunskaper om hur elva kommuner i en delregion förhåller sig till nya förutsättningar med en förändrad nationell arbetsmarknadspolitik efter Arbetsförmedlingens reformering 2019. Arbetet bidrar till att ge insikter kring kommunernas strategier för organisering och samverkan, samt konsekvenser för kommunala aktiviteter för deltagarna. Empirin är inhämtad med kvalitativ metod genom att djupintervjua elva kommunala chefer, med ansvar inom arbetsmarknadsområdet i sin kommun, på en strategisk eller strategisk/operativ nivå. Arbetsförmedlingens reformering har till exempel inneburit nedstängning av många lokala kontor och att insatser som tidigare ofta utfördes av kommunerna på uppdrag av Arbetsförmedlingen nu utförs av fristående aktörer. Som en följd av de statliga förändringarna har det påverkat den lokala arbetsmarknadspolitiken som kommunerna utför, med anpassning av kommunernas organisationer och vilka aktiviteter som kan erbjudas deltagarna i målgruppen. Arbetsförmedlingens reformering innebar till en början omfattande konsekvenser för den lokala samverkan och individsamverkan, vilket har fått en betydelse för utförandet av arbetsmarknadspolitiken i praktiken för kommunerna och kommunernas invånare. Examensarbetets teoretiska referensram beskriver att Arbetsförmedlingen har svårigheter i att kunna erbjuda flera av målgrupperna tillräckliga insatser, vanligen de deltagare som står längst ifrån arbetsmarknaden till exempel ungdomar, utrikesfödda och långtidsarbetslösa, grupper som ofta kan ha ett kommunalt ekonomiskt bistånd. Det medför att det kan finnas förväntningar att kommunerna ska utföra insatser för de som står längst ifrån arbetsmarknaden. Målgruppen utgör ofta en kostnad för kommuner och även om arbetsmarknadspolitiken i grunden är ett statligt ansvar agerar kommunerna med insatser för att reducera de egna kostnaderna för ekonomiskt bistånd. Det empiriska materialet i examensarbetet har analyserats tematiskt. För att synliggöra strukturen kontra individernas handlingars betydelse för förändringsprocesserna har analysen utgått från Giddens Struktureringsteori. Slutsatserna är att kommunerna har påverkats med omfattande anpassningar efter Arbetsförmedlingens reformering. Det har krävts olika individuella lokala strategiska beslut för att anpassa organiseringen, ofta med nedskärningar, och samverkan till de nya förutsättningarna. Kommunerna har även valt olika strategier vid anpassning av de aktiviteter som erbjuds olika grupper av deltagare och vilka målgrupper som kommunerna erbjuder aktiviteter. / The aim of the thesis was to shed light and contribute to knowledge about how eleven municipalities in a region are responding to new conditions with a changed national labour market policy after the reform of the Swedish Public Employment Service in 2019. The work contributes to insights into the municipalities' strategies for organization and cooperation, as well as consequences for municipal activities for participants. The empirical data was collected using qualitative method by conducting in-depth interviews with eleven municipal managers, responsible for the labour market area in their municipality, at a strategic or strategic/operational level. For example, the reform of the Swedish Public Employment Service has resulted in the closure of many local offices and that services that were previously often carried out by the municipalities on behalf of the Public Employment Service are now carried out by independent actors. As a result of the government changes, it has affected the local labour market policy that the municipalities carry out, with adaptation of the municipalities' organizations and which activities can be offered to the participants in the target group. The reform of the employment agency initially had extensive consequences for local and individual collaboration, which has been important for the implementation of labour market policy in practice for the municipalities and their residents. The thesis' theoretical framework describes that the Public Employment Service has difficulties in being able to offer several of the target groups sufficient activities, usually the participants who are the furthest from the labour market, such as young people, foreign-born and the long-term unemployed, groups that often can receive municipal economic support. This means that there may be expectations that the municipalities will carry out activities for those who are furthest from the labour market. The target groups represent a cost for the municipalities and even if labour market policy is fundamentally a state responsibility, the municipalities act with activities to reduce their own costs for economic support. The empirical material in the thesis has been analysed thematically. To make visible the structure versus the significance of individuals' actions for the change processes, the analysis has been based on Gidden's Structuration Theory. The conclusions are that the municipalities have been affected by extensive adaptations after the reform of the Swedish Public Employment Service. Various individual local strategic decisions have been required to adapt the organization, often with cuts, and collaboration to the new conditions. The municipalities have also chosen different strategies when adapting the activities offered to different groups of participants and which target groups the municipalities offer activities to.

This thesis aims to analyze how tendencies to corruption affect trust in Central Managing Authorities: Sweden Public Employment Service, National Service Center, and Swedish Insurance Agency.  The research questions are:  · Can the trust and legitimacy for the three Central Managing Authorities has been affected by corruption?  · What similarities and differences exist about the corruption into Swedish Public Employment Service, National Service Center, and Swedish Social Insurance Agency?  · Can the lack of trust and legitimacy have other causes than the occurrence of corruption?  The study used comparative method, where cases have been compared and analyzed out from theoretical framework. Through comparation, similarities and differences between the cases and find explaining factors about how corruption can affect trust through applying of the theoretical framework was identified. There are some important implications. First, corrupt tendencies can lead to common interests be override because of personal interests. Second, the democratic values in the public administration can be affect negatively because of corrupt tendencies. Lastly, knowledge and awareness are fundamental for how corrupt tendencies affect citizen’s trust for Central Managing Authorities.