2023-04-262022/23:UbU8 · p.1UbUEducation
Sizing of Education
Sizing of upper-secondary education places
What's at stake: There is a severe shortage of vocationally trained workers, such as truck drivers, while too few students choose vocational programmes. The issue is whether the governance of upper-secondary places - and school locations - should be reviewed to better match labour-market needs, affecting both students' education choices and employers' access to skilled staff.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
Whether the government should launch a dedicated review of how places on upper-secondary programmes - and where schools are located - are governed and sized, or whether the legal changes and planning tools already under way are enough.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee points out that parliament has already adopted legal changes requiring labour-market needs, not just student demand, to be weighed when places and programme offerings are decided, that Skolverket produces regional planning materials and runs the national programme councils, and that municipalities must cooperate on the education offer within primary collaboration areas. It therefore sees no need for further action and recommends rejecting the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (SD)
Despite a severe labour shortage in many occupations, such as truck driving, vocational programmes attract too few students while places on academically oriented programmes keep expanding - risking more students being trained for something that will not lead to a job. The government should review how upper-secondary places and school locations are governed and sized, using the sizing model used for higher vocational education as a template.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by SD.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: MModeraterna, SSocialdemokraterna
Ja 236–63Nej 86–213
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 92/0/0/15 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | No 1/63/0/9 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| SDHenrik Vinge (SD, Stockholms kommun) | Yes — party line: No |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:1014 by Thomas Morell et al. (SD) demand 12 and 2022/23:1025 by Patrick Reslow et al. (SD) demands 5 and 6.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:1014 av Thomas Morell m.fl. (SD) yrkande 12 och 2022/23:1025 av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 5 och 6.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 50 proposals concerning upper secondary school. The proposals were submitted during the general motion period in 2022. The motions concern, among other things, the number of places in upper secondary school in relation to labor market needs, subjects in upper secondary school, the design of vocational programs, and guidance on studies and careers in upper secondary school. The Riksdag rejected the motions based on existing regulations and that investigative work in the area is ongoing.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to investigate the steering of the number of places in secondary school programs to better meet labor market needs. (SD) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to abolish market-driven schools and replace competition and free choice with societal governance where resources are allocated according to need; upper secondary school should meet all pupils' needs and not be built on competition.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to abolish market-driven schools and replace competition and free choice with societal governance where resources are allocated according to need; upper secondary school should meet all pupils' needs and not be built on competition. It also requires planned efforts on vocational skills for the transition. A review of governance and sizing of upper secondary school places therefore lies in line with the plan's requirement for political planning over market-driven establishment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill avskaffa marknadsskolan och ersätta konkurrens och fri dragningsrätt med samhällelig styrning där resurser fördelas efter behov; gymnasieskolan ska möta alla elevers behov och inte bygga på konkurrens. Den kräver också planmässiga satsningar på yrkeskompetens för omställningen. En översyn av styrning och dimensionering av gymnasieplatser ligger därmed i linje med planens krav på politisk planering framför marknadsstyrd etablering.
- upper secondary without competition governancedecisive»Gymnasieskolan ska kunna möta alla barns behov, och inte som idag bygga på konkurrens.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Upper secondary school should be able to meet all children's needs, and not as today be built on competition.”
- abolish market-driven schools»Vänsterpartiet vill avskaffa marknadsskolan med start nästa mandatperiod.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to abolish market-driven schools starting next election period.”
- education for structural transition»Ett väl utbyggt utbildningssystem behövs« (party programme ↗)“A well-expanded education system is needed”
- vocational skills for the transition»massiva satsningar på omställningsstöd, kompetensutveckling och utbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“massive efforts on transition support, skills development and education”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto explicitly demands a stronger link between the educational supply and society's staffing needs, and states that this applies to both upper secondary and higher education.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly demands a stronger link between the educational supply and society's staffing needs, and states that this applies to both upper secondary and higher education. The plan further wishes to take back control over where and when independent schools establish, which is the same question as school placement. The party programme gives municipalities decisive influence over new school establishments. A review of governance and dimensioning of upper secondary places is thus supported in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen en starkare koppling mellan utbildningsutbudet och samhällets personalbehov, och säger att detta gäller både gymnasiet och högre utbildning. Planen vill dessutom ta tillbaka kontrollen över var och när fristående skolor etablerar sig, vilket är samma fråga som skolornas placering. Partiprogrammet ger kommunerna avgörande inflytande över nya skoletableringar. En översyn av styrning och dimensionering av gymnasieplatser stöds därmed i sak.
- dimensioning after labour market needsdecisive»Det ska finns en starkare koppling mellan de utbildningar som erbjuds och de behov av personal som finns i samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There must be a stronger link between the education offered and the staffing needs that exist in society.”
- societal control over establishments»Vi vill förbjuda vinstuttagen i skolan och ta tillbaka kontrollen över var och när fristående skolor etablerar sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to ban profit extraction from schools and take back control over where and when independent schools establish themselves.”
- municipal influence over school establishment»Kommunerna ska ha ett avgörande inflytande över nya skoletableringar.« (party programme ↗)“Municipalities shall have decisive influence over new school establishments.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan does not take a position on how upper secondary school places should be allocated, but wants education provision to lead to work and highlights the university college model where education is provided where workforce need is high.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not take a position on how upper secondary school places should be allocated, but wants education provision to lead to work and highlights the university college model where education is provided where workforce need is high. It also says that matching on the labour market must improve. At the same time the plan upholds free and fair school choice, which makes the support for increased state control weakly supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte ställning till hur gymnasieplatser ska dimensioneras, men den vill att utbildningsutbudet leder till arbete och lyfter yrkeshögskolans modell där utbildningar ges där arbetskraftsbehovet är stort. Den säger också att matchningen på arbetsmarknaden måste bli bättre. Samtidigt värnar planen ett fritt och rättvist skolval, vilket gör stödet för ökad statlig styrning svagt underbyggt.
- education where workforce need is highdecisive»behovet av arbetskraft är stort.« (party programme ↗)“the need for workforce is high.”
- better matching»Arbetsmarknaden behöver bli bättre på att matcha« (party programme ↗)“The labour market needs to improve at matching”
- free and fair school choice»bryta skolsegregationen och göra skolvalet fritt och rättvist för alla.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“break school segregation and make school choice free and fair for all.”
- broad education provision»Vi tror på folkbildningen och det livslånga lärandet.« (party programme ↗)“We believe in folk education and lifelong learning.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's central commitment is that the education system to a much greater extent should be based on the needs of the labor market and that matching should be improved.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's central commitment is that the education system to a much greater extent should be based on the needs of the labor market and that matching should be improved. A review of the governance and sizing of upper secondary school places, using vocational higher education as a model, is one way to realize this. The plan furthermore wants to make vocational programs more attractive and protect schools throughout the country.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att utbildningssystemet i betydligt större utsträckning ska utgå från arbetsmarknadens behov och att matchningen ska förbättras. En översyn av styrning och dimensionering av gymnasieplatser, med yrkeshögskolan som förebild, är ett sätt att förverkliga det. Planen vill dessutom göra yrkesprogrammen attraktivare och värna skolor i hela landet.
- education based on labor market needsdecisive»Utbildningssystemet behöver i betydligt större utsträckning utgå från arbetsmarknadens behov.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The education system needs to be based to a much greater extent on the needs of the labor market.”
- improved matching»Alla ska ha rätt till en effektiv matchningstjänst och det ska bli lättare att hitta medarbetare inom alla yrken.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone should have the right to an effective matching service and it should become easier to find staff in all professions.”
- more attractive vocational programs»Gör det enklare att anställa elever i yrkesprogram som lärlingar genom att stärka ersättningen för företagens kostnader förknippade med utbildningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make it easier to employ students in vocational programs as apprentices by strengthening compensation for companies' costs associated with training.”
- schools throughout the country»små skolor och förskolor på landsbygden ges förutsättningar att fortsätta sin verksamhet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“small schools and preschools in rural areas are given conditions to continue their operations”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that education be adapted to the labour market, that dropouts from upper secondary school decrease, and that high-quality education be expanded, and that labour shortage occupations shall become attractive.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that education be adapted to the labour market, that dropouts from upper secondary school decrease, and that high-quality education be expanded, and that labour shortage occupations shall become attractive. A review of governance and allocation of upper secondary school places with the vocational college as a model is in line with this. The plan does not, however, express itself on allocation models, and it simultaneously protects students' school choice, which makes the support derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att utbildningen anpassas till arbetsmarknaden, att avhoppen från gymnasiet minskar och att utbildningar med hög kvalitet byggs ut, samt att bristyrken ska bli attraktiva. En översyn av styrning och dimensionering av gymnasieplatser med yrkeshögskolan som förebild ligger i linje med det. Planen uttalar sig dock inte om dimensioneringsmodell, och den värnar samtidigt elevernas skolval, vilket gör stödet härlett.
- education adapted to the labour marketdecisive»Studietidens längd ska vara flexibel och utbildningen ska vara anpassad till arbetsmarknaden.« (party programme ↗)“Study time length shall be flexible and education shall be adapted to the labour market.”
- fewer dropouts from upper secondary school»Avhoppen från gymnasieskolan måste minska.« (party programme ↗)“Dropouts from upper secondary school must decrease.”
- expand education with quality»Vi vill öka den lärarledda undervisningen, skärpa utvärderingen och bygga ut de utbildningar och lärosäten som håller högst kvalitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase teacher-led teaching, sharpen evaluation, and expand those education and institutions of learning that maintain the highest quality.”
- meet the labour shortage»Bristyrken ska bli drömjobb.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Labour shortage occupations shall become dream jobs.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants a broad spectrum of both theoretical and practical education to be offered, that apprenticeship training exists and that qualified vocational education is expanded, all to meet the labour market's rapidly changing needs for labour.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants a broad spectrum of both theoretical and practical education to be offered, that apprenticeship training exists and that qualified vocational education is expanded, all to meet the labour market's rapidly changing needs for labour. That reviewing the management and dimensioning of upper secondary school places with the vocational college as a role model serves this commitment. The plan's requirement that upper secondary school starts from students' needs and interests simultaneously sets a limit for how hard supply can be directed.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att ett brett spektrum av både teoretiska och praktiska utbildningar erbjuds, att lärlingsutbildning finns och att kvalificerade yrkesutbildningar byggs ut, allt för att möta arbetsmarknadens snabbt skiftande behov av arbetskraft. Att se över styrningen och dimensioneringen av gymnasieplatser med yrkeshögskolan som förebild tjänar detta åtagande. Planens krav att gymnasiet utgår från elevernas behov och intressen sätter samtidigt en gräns för hur hårt utbudet kan styras.
- both theoretical and practical pathsdecisive»Ett brett spektrum av både teoretiska och praktiska utbildningar ska erbjudas eleverna.« (party programme ↗)“A broad spectrum of both theoretical and practical educations shall be offered the students.”
- apprenticeship training shall exist»Lärlingsprogram där undervisningen växelvis bedrivs på skola och« (party programme ↗)“Apprenticeship programs where teaching is alternately conducted at school and”
- qualified vocational education»Med kvalificerade praktiska utbildningar på exempelvis yrkeshögskola ökar förutsättningarna för detta.« (party programme ↗)“With qualified practical education at for example vocational college the conditions for this increase.”
- students' needs drive upper secondary»behov och intressen och bör därför präglas av mångfald« (party programme ↗)“needs and interests and should therefore be characterized by diversity”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly commits to national coordination of society's need for the number of education places precisely because skills supply must improve.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly commits to national coordination of society's need for the number of education places precisely because skills supply must improve. The counter-proposal's demand that governance and dimensioning of upper secondary places be reviewed with the vocational university model as a precursor is the same thing in substance. The plan also requires that vocational education receive content that is relevant and in demand on the labour market.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig uttryckligen en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av antalet utbildningsplatser, just för att kompetensförsörjningen måste bli bättre. Motförslagets krav på att styrningen och dimensioneringen av gymnasieplatser ses över med yrkeshögskolans modell som förebild är samma sak i sak. Planen kräver dessutom att yrkesutbildningarna får ett innehåll som är relevant och eftertraktat på arbetsmarknaden.
- national dimensioningdecisive»Få på plats en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av antalet utbildningsplatser för att förbättra kompetensförsörjningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish national coordination of society's need for the number of education places to improve skills supply”
- better skills supply»Kompetensförsörjningen på svensk arbetsmarknad måste bli bättre.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Skills supply on the Swedish labour market must improve.”
- relevant vocational training»De gymnasiala yrkesutbildningarna och vuxenutbildningarna i Sverige måste få ett innehåll som är relevant och eftertraktat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's upper secondary vocational training and adult education must have content that is relevant and in demand.”
- education linked to labour market»Sverige ska ha ett utbildningssystem och en arbetsmarknad« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have an education system and a labour market”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan explicitly requires that the education system is adapted to labor market needs to a greater extent and that everyone should be given the foundation for an in-demand profession.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that the education system is adapted to labor market needs to a greater extent and that everyone should be given the foundation for an in-demand profession. Reviewing the management and sizing of upper secondary school places so that more are trained for occupations with shortages is precisely this requirement. The plan also wants to introduce two-year practical education programs for faster entry into the labor market.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att utbildningsväsendet i högre grad anpassas efter arbetsmarknadens behov och att alla ska få grunden till ett yrke som efterfrågas. Att se över styrningen och dimensioneringen av gymnasieplatser så att fler utbildas mot bristyrken är precis detta krav. Planen vill dessutom införa tvååriga praktiska utbildningar för snabbare vägar in på arbetsmarknaden.
- education matching labor market needsdecisive»Utbildningsväsendet och integrationsprogram måste också i högre grad anpassas efter arbetsmarknadens behov.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The education system and integration programs must also to a greater extent be adapted to labor market needs.”
- sizing according to needs»Utbilda efter de behov som finns på arbetsmarknaden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Educate according to the needs that exist in the labor market”
- profession in demand»Ge alla grunden till ett yrke som efterfrågas på arbetsmarknaden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give everyone the foundation for a profession that is demanded on the labor market”
- practical vocational education»Tvååriga praktiska gymnasieutbildningar ska införas för att ge snabbare vägar in på arbetsmarknaden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Two-year practical upper secondary education programs shall be introduced to provide faster entry into the labor market.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UbU8)
- Committee report full text (HA01UbU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1014 — Ett konkurrenskraftigt svenskt väginfrastruktursystem av Thomas Morell m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1024 — En grundskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1025 — En gymnasieskola och vuxenutbildning i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1063 — Lärlingsanställningar och APL-platser av Leif Nysmed och Lars Mejern Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1082 — Fler lärlingsutbildningar som leder till yrkesexamen av Camilla Brunsberg (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1093 — Idrottssveriges möjligheter att bedriva elitverksamhet för ungdomar av Alexandra Anstrell m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1121 — Fler företag, fler jobb och stärkt konkurrenskraft i hela landet av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:115 — Entreprenörskap i grundskolan av Saila Quicklund (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1209 — Programmering som ett eget obligatoriskt ämne av Beatrice Timgren (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1226 — Vissa kulturpolitiska frågor av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1471 — Barns och ungas tillgång till kultur av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1550 — Trygghet för företagare av Mathias Tegnér och Jennie Nilsson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1722 — Arbetsrättsliga kunskaper i gymnasieskolan av Eva Lindh (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1939 — Underlätta för ungdomar att få jobb och bostad av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1993 — Entreprenörskap i gymnasieskolan av Johanna Rantsi (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2001 — Fler yrkesutbildade av Johanna Rantsi och Sten Bergheden (båda M)
- Motion 2022/23:215 — Naturbruksskolorna och de gröna näringarna är framtiden av Mikael Larsson (C)
- Motion 2022/23:216 — Utveckling av gymnasieskolans program med inriktning ekonomi mot ekonomisk redovisning av Mikael Larsson (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2277 — Jämställdhetspolitik av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
Source: The Swedish Parliament