The latest episode of PESPod, the podcast of the European Network of Public Employment Services (PES Network), explores how the Swedish Public Employment Service is helping young people with disabilities or health conditions through the transition from education into employment.
Host David Poyser speaks with Christian Skoog, National Project Manager and Youth Strategist at Arbetsförmedlingen, the Swedish Public Employment Service. They discuss the development of Samstart and SamSTART+, what Sweden has learnt from implementing the two initiatives and the practical lessons for other Public Employment Services (PES).
Originally piloted through five regional projects supported by the European Social Fund+, Samstart brought together the Swedish PES, schools, and municipalities. It created a pathway into support before young people leave education, allowing employment counsellors to understand their needs and ambitions and begin preparing for the transition into working life. The initiative was rolled out nationally in spring 2025.
The experience of the Samstart project also revealed a gap: young people who left education early or were not identified through schools could miss out on support. SamSTART+ was developed in response. Alongside schools, it works with municipal services, healthcare providers, and other trusted organisations to reach young people who may otherwise be missed and create additional routes into employment support.
This episode highlights the importance of early intervention, cooperation, trust, and continuity. It also explores how maintaining specialist support for at least a year after a young person starts employment can help them settle into the workplace and address any issues or further support needs that emerge.
Key points discussed in the episode include:
How early intervention can help young people access support before they move into employment: Connecting young people with employment services before they leave education, and maintaining support as they move into working life, provides continuity as their circumstances and needs change.
The need for additional routes to reach young people outside the education system: The experience of Samstart showed that school-based pathways could not reach every young person who needed support. SamSTART+ builds on this learning by creating additional routes through municipal services, healthcare providers, and other local organisations.
Building trust is essential for providing support: Meeting young people in familiar settings, involving someone they know already, and listening to their needs and ambitions can create a more secure and accessible first point of contact.
Data can reveal gaps in support: Samstart’s national registration system provides a clearer picture of how many students receive support across different schools and municipalities. Comparing these figures with local student populations can highlight areas where fewer young people are accessing support.
Tailored support focusing on long-term outcomes is key: People with the same disability or health condition may have different needs. Tailoring support to each young person’s circumstances and ambitions helps organisations look beyond their own priorities and remain focused on shared, long-term outcomes.
Further information:
Click here to listen to the full episode of PESPod #29: Beyond the classroom: lessons from Sweden’s Samstart and Samstart+
If you have any comments about this episode or would like to suggest future topics, write to: EMPL-PES-SECRETARIAT
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EMPL-PES-SECRETARIAT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
The PES Network Knowledge Centre and PES Practices database also have a wide range of information and inspiring practices on the organisation and services of Public Employment Services across Europe.
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