The Greenlandic employment system

The Greenlandic employment system aims to facilitate good matches
between jobseekers and employers, given a labour market characterized
by challenging structures in terms of geography, available job types, and
skill distribution. In 2015, the Parliament of Greenland enacted legislation
to reform this system. Effective 1 January 2016, this reform led across
Greenland to the establishment of 17 Majoriaq centres (i.e., job centres),
where citizens of working age must apply for public benefits in case of
unemployment. The Majoriaq centres are responsible for casework, counselling,
and skills upgrading related to both unemployed youth and adults.
Each Majoriaq has three sections – a labour market section, an education
counselling section, and a skills upgrading section. This chapter analyses
the Greenlandic employment system based on qualitative and quantitative
data collected in 2019. The results focus on the structural labour market
conditions in which the different Majoriaq have to operate, the internal
organization, caseworker resources, the tools, and targets the caseworkers
must implement as well as the external collaboration with the municipal
social services departments and with private companies. Finally, the chapter
discusses some challenges Greenland faces in obtaining a well-functioning
employment system and labour market.