2010:3 An Evaluation of the 2010 Integration Reform for Newly-Arrived Immigrants
On December 1st 2010 one of the largest reforms of Sweden integration policy in recent history was launched. The main feature of this reform is that the primary responsibility for immigrant "establishment" in the country shifted from the municipality level to the state level and more specifically to the Public Employment Service (PES). In the previous system, introduction programs varied considerably across municipalities. Most programs included some form of language training, civics courses and preferably, some form of labor market training. The system was, however, heavily criticized, for long duration on average from immigration to labor market entry. The Swedish Integration Board calculated that the median time from receiving a residence permit to the first job was seven years. As of December 1st 2010, the PES is responsible for the establishment of newly arrived immigrants. Those eligible for participation are expected to meet with caseworkers soon after receiving residence permits, are given an individualized establishment plan and have the possibility of choosing a private establishment coach. The objective of these private coaches is to serve as a link to the labor market and assist newly-arrived immigrants in realizing their establishment plans. Our research project aims to evaluate to what degree this reform was successful in reducing duration from immigration to labor market entry. In order to identify possible reform effects, we use the fact that newly-arrived immigrants who arrive before and after a cut-off date are sorted into two different systems. Those who arrived prior to November 2010 are subject to municipal programs while those arriving after this date are subject to PES programs. As participation in introduction programs is for a maximum of two years and we plan to use register data from Statistics Sweden, the evaluation will be performed during the 2014-2015 period. Participating researchers: Pernilla Andersson Joona and Lena Nekby

2010:2 The History of Swedish Immigration and Integration Policy                                                                                                                                            The Immigration and emigration calendar 2010 gives an overview of Swedish immigration and emigration policies during the last five centuries. The calendar describes developments in law and practice. It offers a resource to anyone interested in the history of migration to and from Sweden both to academic researchers and interested lay readers. The calendar does not claim to be exhaustive. The calendar is divided into thirteen chapters that deal with different aspects of immigration and emigration in Sweden. Chapter 1 provides a general overview of the legal and administrative decisions that have formed the basis for Swedish immigration and emigration policy. The calendar is then divided into three main parts. The first part (chapters 2-8) provides systematic accounts of the regulatory frameworks in policy areas based on the Swedish Migration Board's types of residence permit, namely labor migration, asylum and refugee migration, family reunification, unaccompanied children, visiting students, and adoptees. Chapter 8 focuses on irregular migrants. The second part (chapters 9-11) deals with Swedish citizenship legislation, integration policies and social protection for immigrants in Sweden. The last part (chapters 12-13) discusses the common Nordic labor market and the free movement of workers within the EU before 1995. Participating researcher: Julia Boguslaw.

See also the following projects listed under "Completed Projects":

2006:10 Immigrant Introduction Programs – A Randomized Experiment

2008:3 Evaluation of a Trial Recruitment Project for Newly Arrived Immigrants: “Newly Arrived Immigrants - Construction Firms”