• Sweden edition

Fewer claiming benefits in Sweden: report

Published: 17 Aug 09 11:55 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/21512/20090817/

The number of people claiming benefits in Sweden declined for the fourth consecutive year in 2008, according to new figures. But the tide is about to turn, analysts warn.

There were 823,514 people (measured in full-time equivalents) in receipt of various social benefits during 2008, according to new figures from Statistics Sweden (SCB). This represents a decline of nine percent on 2007.

The figures cover those in receipt of payments for sickness, early pensioners, unemployment payments and financial assistance.

Despite the decline the proportion of the Swedish workforce relying on some form of social benefit to meet their bills, amounted to 15.2 percent.

The figure was the lowest since shortly after the outbreak of the crisis years at the beginning of the 1990s but is not expected to hold throughout 2009, according to analyst expectations.

Unemployment has been growing steadily throughout 2009 and the latest SCB figures indicate a 60 percent increase since the autumn 2008.

All of the SCB figures are measured in full-time equivalents - meaning that each statistical person is equivalent to a full-time worker.

TT/Peter Vinthagen Simpson (news@thelocal.se)

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15:58 August 17, 2009 by Kaethar
15.2 percent? So not all immigrants then. ;D

Immigrants (foreign-born) constitute around 35% of Sweden's population and that doesn't include those born here to foreign parents.

I'll post this here before anyone mentions immigrants and welfare (it's bound to come up).
18:32 August 17, 2009 by apostolos1975
35%

Where did you get this number? If that was true (only the foreign-born) then in total more than 40 to 505 of the swedish population would have ties with foreign parents (one or two, born here or not). Thats totally wrong. Migrationsverket has a booklet which claims a total of 15% with one or two parents from abroad.
20:03 August 17, 2009 by Kaethar
Great, now I can comment again. :D

Now, I read it wrong.

It's ~9%. Which is even better. :D

Now, I checked for a source on the figure but now I can't find it. Naturally I got it from SCB and I even saw and article in Expressen quoting it. But apparently it was a mistake since both the SCB page and Expressen article have disappeared. I checked another SCB page and I calculated the amount of foreign born people.

http://www.ssd.scb.se/Databaser/Makro/Visavar.asp?yp=bergman&xu=scb&huvudtabell=UtrikesFoddaR&deltabell=02&deltabellnamn=Utrikes+f%F6dda+i+riket+efter+f%F6delseland+och+k%F6n%2E+%C5r&omradekod=BE&omradetext=Befolkning&preskat=O&innehall=UtrikesFodda&starttid=2000&stopptid=2008&Prodid=BE0101&fromSok=&Fromwhere=S&lang=1&langdb=1

1281581 = ~13.8 % of Sweden's population, which doesn't count people born and raised in Sweden to foreign grandparents (which is probably where the 35% comes from. :)
21:16 August 17, 2009 by Playmaker
well the only thing to say about to many immigrants is that we do not need them if we have so many unemployed. and the immigants that come from western countries have a very good education and make good money in turn pay a lot of taxes. i had to prove i can get a job and show my bank statements before i was able to come here. then my working friends said that americans are not considered immigrants to most swedes it is like a part of EU and since there are so many swedes in the US we are like family.nice
22:38 August 17, 2009 by Iraniboy
@Playmaker

Who are you exactly who say "We don't need them..." ?

I had to prove the same thing too!! I suspect I have better education that you! So please stop this good/bad immigrants. My Swedish friends have also told me several times to stay!! You're an immigrant who has recently becoem a Swedish citizen. Apparently you're not very different to those unqualified refugees. Because both of you don not possess the veiw of the majority of Swedes. The majority are welcoming and only less than 5% support far-rights. Your opinions fit with that 5% instead of that 95%.
10:56 August 18, 2009 by powerofknowledge
@iranboy

the majority of racist and .. came from countries eastern europe and they have several problems to be like that as i know from my experience and as my Swed friends told me:

very low education

social problems

alcoholism

drug addiction

extrem ideas from there origin

(Unemployment) or working in some dirty jobs (not thats like in Discovery Channel) but something diff.

in addition to other problems i dont have tme 2 meention
00:22 August 20, 2009 by jonathanjames61
Its quite unfortunate,that the immigration gives the wrong people permit to stay,while people with ambition to make sweden economics role on are bearly kept in dakness,Swedes should wake up and size the opportunity of turninmg the immigrant labour maket to reality.....
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