Theme: Reaching the fringes – a more inclusive working life

The Nordic countries enjoy the world's most equitable wages, the most generous welfare systems and the lowest poverty levels. At the same time they are witnessing the peak of a boom: 'Never before in modern times has the Nordic labour market been in such good shape', the journal writes under the theme: 'Reaching the fringes: A more inclusive working life'.

Still, large groups remain completely or partially outside the labour market in the Nordic countries. The examples we present from Denmark and Sweden show how youths and others on the fringes need extra help to get included into working life, which often calls for broad co-operation between various institutions.

Many struggle to enter the labour market, while companies say there is a great need for labour in more and more areas. The Nordic governments have decided to opt for a multipronged approach; mobilising labour at home while attracting qualified labour from abroad. Of all the Nordic countries, Norway has received the largest number of labour immigrants after the latest EU enlargement. The government there recently presented a white paper on labour migration.