Social Inclusion for Young People in the Nordic Countries: Similar but Not Identical

Twin goals in all Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – are to create equitable conditions in work and education for youth and young adults, regardless of background conditions such as class, gender and ethnicity. The development of welfare state institutions in Nordic countries during the twentieth century is linked to this goal. The countries however have different views on how these goals should be reached. Their fairness strategies vary. Further, while the Nordic countries are considered to have well-developed public policies that foster social inclusion, none of the countries have been able to achieve equality for young people in work and education.