Socio-economic Review of Dalarna County, Sweden

Oristano, Sardenia 2009-05-07

Stiftelsen Minerva

Rural areas in Sweden

• Sweden – a country with large surface and sparse population

• The north of Sweden is the widest empty space of the European Union

• A quarter of the population lives in rural areas*

• 22 people per km2 (compared to 243 per km2 in Great Britain)* Definition – areas outside localities with a population of 3000 inhabitants or more

Map of Dalarna County

Dalarna County

• One of Sweden´s twenty-one counties

• The county of Dalarna covers an area that is roughly the size of Belgium

• Has a great number of natural geographic regions; different typs of woodland, foothills and alpine regions

• Forrest, mire, bare rocks and high mountains

• 3 % of the Swedish population lives in Dalarna

Demography and population • 275 750 people are living in Dalarna county

• Density of 10 people per km2

• Two major age groups: 13-17 and 57-61 year olds

• Slightly more women than men

• Average number of children per woman is 2,0

• Population decline, low birth rates and increased mobility of younger people

• Changed conditions for public services and infrastructure

Economy • Sweden – high taxes and a large public sector

• Exporting nation: Goods and services for SEK 1067 billion:1 EUR = 10,7 SEK)

• Income tax in Dalarna county is 33 % (mostly spent on schools and elderly care)

• Export from Dalarna County: 4,4 % or SEK 47 billion

• Large industries that export wood, paper, pulp and steel

Labour market in rural Dalarna

• More women than men are recruited to colleges and universities (1078 women and 765 men)

• 81 % of all men and 76 % of all women are gainfully employed

• About 90 % of the employed men and 57 % of the employed women have a full-time job

• 11 000 company owners are running some kind of business (36 % of the company owners are women)

Labour market in rural Dalarna• The gender segregation is more significant than the national average

• The average age of employed people is high – need for replacement recruting

• Both men and women are entiteled to parental leave for the first year/years

• 75 % of all 1-5 year olds go to pre-school (child care)

Women´s labour market in Dalarna • The most common trades are within nursing and health care

• A high number also work as teachers, accounting clerks and shop assistants

• Women start their businesses within areas of personal and cultural services

• Low representation in managing positions

• Women have a lower income (2 000 EUR/month for women and 2 600 EUR/month for men)

Sources

• Implementing EU Rural Development 2000-2006. The Swedish Case.

• Swedish National Rural Agency

• Sweden – Rural Development Plan

• County Administrative Board. 2006. Facts about Dalarna

• County Administrative Board & Region Dalarna. 2008. Women and Men in Dalarna

• Almi Dalarna. 2008. Economic Growth

• Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

• www.fotofinnaren.se