Management of Municipal Employment Efforts

This report examines government management of employment efforts in municipalities and job centres. In recent years, there have been many employment-policy reforms of social cash benefits, early retirement, light jobs with wage subsidies (flex jobs) and municipal reimbursement. The aim has been to create a more effective employment system.

The report discusses how regulation, financial incentives and digital knowledge-sharing affect work in municipalities and job centres. Through qualitative interviews with case workers, managers and chairmen of municipal employment committees, as well as a questionnaire survey among case workers, the report discusses how management instruments affect the actions, attitudes and assessments of employees, managers and local politicians.

Overall, the report shows that case workers, managers and municipal politicians react differently to different instruments. Whereas case workers react more strongly to legislation, managers and politicians are more oriented towards financial incentives. The report also shows that even though many case workers and managers experience clear cohesion between the many reforms, many also experience challenges with regard to the pace of reforms and the synergy between statutory requirements for a holistic approach and strict fiscal management at the municipalities.

This survey was funded by the Ministry of Employment.