1. Socio-economic Review of Dalarna County, Sweden Oristano, Sardenia 2009-05-07 Stiftelsen Minerva

2. Rural areas in Sweden Sweden – a country with large surface and sparse population The north of Sweden is the widest empty space of the European Union A quarter of the population lives in rural areas * 22 people per km2 (compared to 243 per km2 in Great Britain) * Definition – areas outside localities with a population of 3000 inhabitants or more

3. Map of Dalarna County

4. Dalarna County One of Sweden´s twenty-one counties The county of Dalarna covers an area that is roughly the size of Belgium Has a great number of natural geographic regions; different typs of woodland, foothills and alpine regions Forrest, mire, bare rocks and high mountains 3 % of the Swedish population lives in Dalarna

6. Demography and population 275 750 people are living in Dalarna county Density of 10 people per km2 Two major age groups: 13-17 and 57-61 year olds Slightly more women than men Average number of children per woman is 2,0 Population decline, low birth rates and increased mobility of younger people Changed conditions for public services and infrastructure

7. Economy Sweden – high taxes and a large public sector Exporting nation: Goods and services for SEK 1067 billion:1 EUR = 10,7 SEK) Income tax in Dalarna county is 33 % (mostly spent on schools and elderly care) Export from Dalarna County : 4,4 % or SEK 47 billion Large industries that export wood, paper, pulp and steel

8. Labour market in rural Dalarna More women than men are recruited to colleges and universities (1078 women and 765 men) 81 % of all men and 76 % of all women are gainfully employed About 90 % of the employed men and 57 % of the employed women have a full-time job 11 000 company owners are running some kind of business (36 % of the company owners are women)

9. Labour market in rural Dalarna The gender segregation is more significant than the national average The average age of employed people is high – need for replacement recruting Both men and women are entiteled to parental leave for the first year/years 75 % of all 1-5 year olds go to pre-school (child care)

10. Women´s labour market in Dalarna The most common trades are within nursing and health care A high number also work as teachers, accounting clerks and shop assistants Women start their businesses within areas of personal and cultural services Low representation in managing positions Women have a lower income (2 000 EUR/month for women and 2 600 EUR/month for men)

11. Sources Implementing EU Rural Development 2000-2006. The Swedish Case. Swedish National Rural Agency Sweden – Rural Development Plan County Administrative Board. 2006. Facts about Dalarna County Administrative Board & Region Dalarna. 2008. Women and Men in Dalarna Almi Dalarna. 2008. Economic Growth Confederation of Swedish Enterprise www.fotofinnaren.se