Arbetsrelaterad Psykisk Ohälsa & Sjukskrivning : En kvalitativ textanalys av Socialdemokraternas aktiva och passiva arbetsmarknadsåtgärder 2002–2022

Sammanfattning

Work-related mental ill health has increasingly affected sick leave and labour market policy in Sweden over the past two decades. This study examines how the Swedish Social Democratic Party’s election manifestos from 2002 to 2022 describe and prioritise active and passive labour market measures aimed at preventing, managing, and mitigating work-related mental ill health in relation to sick leave. The study is based on a qualitative text analysis of six election manifestos and is guided by theories of democratic socialism and previous research on labour market policy. The findings show a gradual strengthening of active labour market measures over time, particularly after 2014, with increasing emphasis on work environment, rehabilitation, and employability. Explicit references to mental ill health remain limited prior to 2018, although indirect measures are present throughout the period. At the same time, passive measures such as income protection and social security are consistently presented as necessary complements to activation policies. The proposals reflect a strong ideological commitment to solidarity, public responsibility, and cooperation between the state, employers, and social partners. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how work-related mental ill health is politically framed and demonstrates how democratic socialist values shape the formulation of labour market policy over time.