Audit finds unjustified removals from Sweden’s youth job programme

Sweden’s public employment service removed young people from a job-support programme without legal grounds in nearly one fifth of the cases examined by the unemployment-insurance watchdog.

The IAF audit, published on 28 October, examined all 84 decisions removing participants from the youth job guarantee for misconduct or disrupting activities between December 2025 and February 2026. It found 15 lacked legal grounds.

Removal costs participants both their programme place and their allowance. IAF said Arbetsförmedlingen often removed people instead of investigating further or taking other steps. In some cases, a sanction notification should have been considered instead.

The watchdog also found that 19 of 68 removals with legal grounds used the wrong reason. That distinction affects when someone can return to the programme and receive support.

Nine of the 84 decisions lacked an explanation, although all included information about requesting reconsideration.

IAF acknowledged improvements since its 2024 review and said unclear rules can make consistent decisions harder. Arbetsförmedlingen has updated guidance and examples for staff, but failings remain.

The agency must report its corrective measures to IAF and the Labour Ministry by 31 March 2027. The findings do not establish that every affected participant has been reinstated or repaid.

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