One of the main priorities for Nordic co-operation on employment and the labour market is to stimulate the supply of labour and reduce structural unemployment.

The focus is on mobilising internal manpower resources and reducing “exclusion” on the labour market by improving opportunities for people who, through disability, ethnicity, educational background, gender, age or illness, have difficulty gaining a foothold on the labour market.

Another priority is ensuring efficient coordination of the supply of labour in the face of increased and continually changing demand – i.e. equipping the workforce to meet the competency needs of the labour market, including in areas such as climate technology, as well as developing incentives that encourage different groups of working age to enter employment.

This sector poses particular demands on a proactive labour-market policy. In addition, the focus is on recruiting well-qualified external labour, which involves sharing experiences of marketing the Nordic countries as an attractive place to live and work.