Transforming Lives: How Ronneby Municipality's New Start Jobs Program is Bridging the Gap to Employment
In Ronneby municipality, new start jobs have emerged as a vital strategy to combat long-term unemployment while simultaneously addressing workforce needs. The approach is straightforward: the municipality connects job seekers with employers who require additional support, providing an opportunity for businesses to test and develop potential employees with financial backing.
Lisa Hjelm, a key figure in this initiative, highlights the importance of bringing in talented individuals like Grace Alsaaty as extra resources. Grace, who fled Syria in 2014 with a degree in mathematics and statistics, faced a challenging road to employment. Despite her educational background and language skills, she struggled to find work due to a lack of experience and networks.
"I didn’t give up. I learned Swedish via YouTube and obtained my driver’s license to increase my chances," Grace recalls, reflecting on her persistence amidst rejection.
After months of job searching, Grace contacted the labor market unit in Ronneby, which coordinates the new start jobs program. This connection proved to be a turning point in her journey.
A few days following their meeting, Lisa Hjelm received an opportunity to incorporate Grace into the teaching staff at Sfi (Swedish for Immigrants), where many students share Arabic as their native language. Despite Grace’s lack of teaching experience, Lisa and her team devised a plan for her to provide assistance in the classroom. Grace’s strong mathematics background soon led her to work specifically with math students, establishing an excellent match between her skills and the needs of the students.
“It’s amazing to see how a person can develop when the conditions are right,” says Lisa Hjelm, expressing her satisfaction with Grace’s progression.
Reflecting on their initial decision to bring Grace on board, Lisa admits that it was not part of her original plan. However, the outcome has been overwhelmingly positive. "We have gained an energetic, skilled, and competent colleague. Without the trial period, we would never have discovered her,” Lisa states.
The journey from a new start job to a permanent position was not immediate. It required a commitment from both the employer and employee. Recognizing that integration can be challenging for someone who has been long-term unemployed, Lisa prioritized mentorship and professional development to ensure Grace could thrive in her role.
After two years in the new start job program, Grace was offered continued employment. To secure a permanent position as a teacher, she needed to obtain a teaching qualification, which she began pursuing while working. By March 2025, Grace achieved her teaching certification and became a high school mathematics teacher at the adult education center in Ronneby.
"We are very pleased to have gained a fantastic math teacher and to see how we utilized new start jobs. It benefits both the community and the individual when you dare to see the opportunities,” Lisa concludes.
Understanding how new start jobs work is essential for both job seekers and employers. The program offers simple and efficient support for recruiting individuals who have been unemployed for a minimum of 12 months or newcomers to Sweden. For young individuals aged 20 to 24 and newly arrived immigrants, unemployment status applies for six months.
The financial incentives include coverage of up to 60 percent of wage costs, with a maximum compensation of 20,000 SEK per month depending on the hire. This support can last for one year for those aged 20 to 24 and up to two years for individuals aged 25 to 66. The program caters to both permanent and temporary positions, allowing employers to hire full-time or part-time staff.
Through initiatives like the new start jobs program, Ronneby municipality is not only addressing worker shortages but also changing lives—one person at a time.
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