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‘An offer you can refuse’: Municipal Activation from the Employers’ Perspective

Angelin, Anna LU and Ulmestig, Rickard (2026) In Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies p.1-21
Abstract
The Nordic welfare states have a long history of local-level activation to combat unemployment. This study explored how employers perceive and experience the function of municipal activation and its participants. We carried out interviews with 277 Swedish employers. Most employers did not perceive municipal activation centers as a relevant collaboration, though they widely accepted the idea that activation is a constructive method to increase employability. Municipal activation centers are the principal actors behind activation, but many employers perceive themselves as bearing the greater proportion of risk and responsibility. Engaging in activation requires employer resources that rarely lead to subsequent hiring. In the recruitment of... (More)
The Nordic welfare states have a long history of local-level activation to combat unemployment. This study explored how employers perceive and experience the function of municipal activation and its participants. We carried out interviews with 277 Swedish employers. Most employers did not perceive municipal activation centers as a relevant collaboration, though they widely accepted the idea that activation is a constructive method to increase employability. Municipal activation centers are the principal actors behind activation, but many employers perceive themselves as bearing the greater proportion of risk and responsibility. Engaging in activation requires employer resources that rarely lead to subsequent hiring. In the recruitment of low-wage labor, applicants’ behavioral traits and motivation are what matter most to employers. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
unemployment, activation, wages, rehabilitation
in
Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
pages
21 pages
publisher
Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
ISSN
2245-0157
DOI
10.18291/njwls.167556
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8692fe98-0efe-43f0-9b7a-320d1b0a5243
date added to LUP
2026-07-20 17:55:14
date last changed
2026-08-04 15:48:52
@article{8692fe98-0efe-43f0-9b7a-320d1b0a5243,
  abstract     = {{The Nordic welfare states have a long history of local-level activation to combat unemployment. This study explored how employers perceive and experience the function of municipal activation and its participants. We carried out interviews with 277 Swedish employers. Most employers did not perceive municipal activation centers as a relevant collaboration, though they widely accepted the idea that activation is a constructive method to increase employability. Municipal activation centers are the principal actors behind activation, but many employers perceive themselves as bearing the greater proportion of risk and responsibility. Engaging in activation requires employer resources that rarely lead to subsequent hiring. In the recruitment of low-wage labor, applicants’ behavioral traits and motivation are what matter most to employers.}},
  author       = {{Angelin, Anna and Ulmestig, Rickard}},
  issn         = {{2245-0157}},
  keywords     = {{unemployment; activation; wages; rehabilitation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  pages        = {{1--21}},
  publisher    = {{Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies}},
  series       = {{Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies}},
  title        = {{‘An offer you can refuse’: Municipal Activation from the Employers’ Perspective}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/255994841/NJWLFinal-_An_offer_you_can_refuse_.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.18291/njwls.167556}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}