Sweden’s jobless youth should find work in …Greece and Spain

Sweden’s government-funded employment agency on Monday launched a campaign encouraging unemployed Swedish youths to look for summer jobs in crisis-stricken Mediterranean countries including Spain and Greece.

The jobs, most of them in the hotel and entertainment sectors, will mainly serve Swedish tourists.

“We hope our Swedish youths will get every single one of these jobs. These companies have had good experience of young Swedish workers,” said Kristina Gärdebro Johansson, a European Employment Services (EURES) advisor at the Swedish Public Employment Serivce (Arbetsförmedlingen).

Hundreds of jobs in Greece, Spain, Italy and Cyprus — all popular tourist destinations for Swedes — will be marketed at a special event organized by the country’s employment agency and EURES in the southern city of Malmö next week.

The positions include football coaches, aerobics instructors and dancers at hotels and resorts around the Mediterranean. Some of the jobs require Scandinavian language skills, but not all of them, said Gärdebro Johansson.

Youth unemployment in Greece and Spain currently stands at more than 50 percent.

Although Sweden’s export-driven economy is beginning to feel the effects of Europe’s economic woes, it has posted strong growth since making a quick recovery from the 2008 recession. It also has a low level of government debt.

But youth unemployment has remained above the European average, reaching a seasonally adjusted 23.9 percent in December.

Sweden’s employment agency is offering to reimburse those who want to travel to the Mediterranean.

Some of the jobs require Scandinavian language skills, but not all of them, said Gärdebro Johansson.

Youth unemployment in Greece and Spain currently stands at more than 50 percent.

Although Sweden’s export-driven economy is beginning to feel the effects of Europe’s economic woes, it has posted strong growth since making a quick recovery from the 2008 recession. It also has a low level of government debt.

But youth unemployment has remained above the European average, reaching a seasonally adjusted 23.9 percent in December.

Sweden’s employment agency is offering to reimburse those who want to travel to the Mediterranean job fair from other parts of the country.

“This is a great opportunity if you want to enter the job market,” Gärdebro Johansson said. ( The Local.se)

Later on Tuesday, the Local-Sweden reported that Swedish employment package talks collapsed as  employers groups pulled out of negotiations over a key government youth unemployment package expected to create 30,000 jobs, but Finance Minister Anders Borg downplayed the development.

 PS I hope the Swedish Job Agency will explain to Swedish youth that they will earn gross 510 euro (410 net) per month if they’re under 25 and 580 euro if 25+. I assume they will enjoy free accomodation, meals and a hot sun 🙂