SUNREM – sustainable remote nordic labour markets

The pace of change in labour markets has accelerated in recent years, not least in terms of the four global megatrends for labour, demographic changes, technological developments, climate change, and globalisation.

These global megatrends present new challenges and opportunities for remote, local labour markets that are by nature smaller and less diverse than large labour markets. The available solutions are contextual and place-specific, particularly in terms of transitioning to more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

Seven local cases

This project specifically focuses on the green transition, or the decarbonisation of the economy.

The project is rooted in seven local case studies in the four countries, using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.

By collecting national statistical data and microdata, the research will be able to increase knowledge about in what way remote local labour markets are impacted by the megatrends and how this impact on labour market participation. By using interviews and co-creative methods in the case study municipalities and regions, the researchers will also collect qualitative data.

The project will result in research reports, scientific articles and stakeholder engagement, and it will provide policy recommendations on how to achieve sustainable labour market participation in remote local labour market areas.

Researchers from four countries

SUNREM is a Nordic collaboration of researchers from Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Åland. The Nordic countries share many common traits, making comparisons particularly interesting and providing valuable learning opportunities across countries.

The Fafo team plans to do qualitative case studies in the two Norwegian cases, Stord and Hammerfest. These are two relatively small municipalities which in different ways depend on a petroleum industry facing a green transition.

For more information SUNREM and the research consortium, you can visit the project webpage.