Forum for Inclusion – 1,000 companies to give 100,000 young people more pathways to work

Today marks the launch of a new, nationwide business strategy bringing together the country's leading employers around a shared goal: 1,000 companies will support 100,000 young people on the journey from exclusion to inclusion over the next 10 years – by creating pathways to employment and education. The initiative is led by Caroline Berg, CEO of Axel Johnson, together with Carl Bennett, Åsa Bergman, Daniel Sachs and Peter Wallenberg Jr.

Forum for Inclusion brings together representatives from business and civil society to turn exclusion into inclusion. The initiative marks a shift in how the business community views social responsibility – from goodwill to strategy, and from project-based efforts to long-term investment.

Caroline Berg, CEO of Axel Johnson:

"With Forum for Inclusion, we are setting a national, long-term strategy for how we can contribute to these issues. It is not just about doing good – it is about the fact that in our work to build strong, competitive companies, we cannot afford to leave a generation behind. Both we as companies and Swedish society as a whole have everything to gain from making better use of young people's skills and drive."

The strategy is built on the conviction that existing efforts can be made more powerful by being gathered, coordinated and extended to more participants. For young people, this means networks, motivation and clearer pathways to employment and education. For society at large, it means lower costs associated with exclusion and strengthened competitiveness and growth through better use of human capability and ambition. For the participating companies, the commitment provides access to broader talent pools while also giving back to the communities in which they operate.

Forum for Inclusion will work alongside companies across seven tracks of concrete tools and methods for making a difference in young people's lives, including – but not limited to – the following:

• Introduction to work: Offering internships, part-time jobs and apprenticeship programmes, primarily during the teenage years.
• Recruitment: Developing routines, methods and tools to reach a wider range of candidates.
• Skills development: Future-proofing young people with new competencies in areas including AI, technology and personal finance.
• Place development: Increasing safety and trust in areas of exclusion in collaboration with property owners and local businesses.

From the Axel Johnson Group, Axfood, Axel Johnson International, Dustin and Martin & Servera have joined the forum.

More information about Forum for Inclusion is available here.