Goal 2: Strengthen labour supply and equal opportunities for all, so that the Nordic Region can better meet the needs of the labour market and bring all of the skills of the labour force into play

The Nordic Region is made up of relatively well-educated and equal populations who work within the framework for the Nordic labour market model. This model ensures security, flexibility and adaptability with high levels of occupation and productivity as a result. However, the Nordic countries also face demographic challenges in that the share of their working-age populations is growing smaller while the number of older citizens with care needs is increasing. These changes are happening at a time when an excessively large share of the labour force is neither in work nor in education. At the same time, parts of the labour market are still characterised by structural barriers which hinder mobilisation of the full range of skills existing within the labour force. The Nordic Region is also experiencing a rise in international competition when it comes to attracting and retaining qualified labour force.

In order to achieve the goal of a strengthened labour supply and equal opportunities for all, the Council will use the coming period to place focus on:

Develop more knowledge on how to get more people into employment or training, with a special focus on groups on the margins of the labour market, such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, women of non-European descent and young people who are neither in work nor in unemployment.

Improve the levels of equal treatment and equality on the labour market in order to enable the Nordic Region to mobilise the full range of skills in the labour force, regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.

Uncover barriers and identify potential initiatives to better attract and retain qualified work force to/in the Nordic Region under fair and decent conditions.