Swedish and European labour and employment law and the modern labour market

The regulation of the labor market is constantly evolving and impacts both the labor market and working life.In Sweden, there are approximately 30 researchers actively conducting research in labor law. Most are legal scholars, but there are also researchers in sociology of law and human resource management.

For about 25-years, there has been a network for these researchers, with Birgitta Nyström serving as the main coordinator.

FAS/Forte has provided funding for the network at various stages, up to and including 2024.The researchers are based at universities in Umeå, Uppsala, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Örebro, Lund, and Malmö, affiliated with law faculties, social science departments, business schools, and the Institute for Social Research.

The gender distribution is roughly equal, and the network includes researchers of all ages.We meet 1-2 times a year for two-day seminars where we discuss research ideas, draft publications, current issues in the field, etc.

Occasionally, colleagues from other Nordic countries or related disciplines participate in the network meetings.The network also aims to facilitate activities for PhD students in labor law, and they are prioritized at the meetings.

There is also a plan to organize specific meetings for them in connection with the network’s gatherings.The network meetings rotate between locations where active researchers are based.

In addition to these seminar activities, webinars are organized to maintain continuous contact among the participants.Besides the seminar activities mentioned above, the network has published three anthologies with recognized publishers, aiming to disseminate knowledge about research on current labor law issues to both Swedish and international audiences.As part of a generational shift, the network is now moving its administrative base to Umeå University.

For research on labor market regulation, the network is central, and its continuation is of utmost importance.