Organisation

The Ministry of Employment has almost 100 employees, of whom approximately six per cent are political appointees. All the others are officials who remain in their posts even in the event of a change of government or minister. The ratio of women to men is 65 per cent to 35 per cent. The average age is 44 years.

Political leadership

Minister for Employment Sven Otto Littorin is head of the Ministry and second-in-command is State Secretary Eva Uddén Sonnegård who manages the Ministry's day-to-day work. This involves planning, coordination and follow-up of the Ministry's activities. The Minister also has a political staff with a press secretary and political advisers.

Divisions and Secretariats

The Ministry has three divisions and three secretariats which are led by non-politically appointed officials.

The secretariats' work includes legal issues, activity planning, support and coordination of administrative and personnel issues, organisational issues, the budget, external and internal information, coordination of cross-division issues and coordination of international issues.

The policy divisions lay the groundwork for government decisions. This involves working on Government bills, administrative matters - appeals, for example - budget and governance issues concerning government agencies and state-owned companies and development work in the form of inquiries, remits etc. EU negotiations and other international assignments are also common elements in the work of the divisions.

The Division for Labour Market Policy is responsible for the development of labour market policy. This work involves employment services, labour market policy programmes and initiatives for disabled people. This Division is also responsible for the European Social Fund in Sweden. The Division for Labour Law and Work Environment is responsible for the policy area of working life. All issues to do with labour legislation, the work environment, working hours and wage formation are dealt with here.

The Division for Research and Analysis monitors developments on the labour market and provides ongoing analysis and reports. This Division is also responsible for all issues to do with unemployment insurance.

Operational Divisions and Secretariats

The Ministry of Employment has two operational divisions and several secretariats.

The divisions prepare matters before government decisions. One of their tasks is to lay the groundwork for government bills. The divisions also manage contacts with the agencies accountable to the Ministry.

The Legal Secretariat supports the ministry in the preparation of laws and other statutory instruments. The Secretariat ensures that administrative matters are carried out correctly and that the decisions taken are in accordance with the law.

The other secretariats are responsible for support and coordination concerning administration, information, European and international coordination, research and analysis and budget.

The head of a division is non-political and normally bears the title of Director.