Why you should join an unemployment fund – as well as a union
Publicerad: 2025-03-24
In Sweden, an unemployment fund provides you with basic financial security if you are laid off and lose your job and salary. As a member of Fackförbundet ST, you receive an income insurance and someone to support and advise you when you have a job and an income. That is why it is important to be part of both an unemployment fund and Fackförbundet ST – for your security both between jobs and while employed.
Ensure that you have basic financial security if you happen to become unemployed. In Sweden, the unemployment fund provides financial compensation during the time you are searching for a new job. If you are laid off and lose your job and income for a period, it is wise to have a secured income. The unemployment fund is your fundamental unemployment insurance.
If you have a salary, you should therefore be part of an unemployment fund. Fackförbundet ST and ST's unemployment fund are separate organizations with different memberships. As a member of Fackförbundet ST, the most important thing is that you are also part of an unemployment fund –not necessarily which one.
What is the difference between the unemployment fund and the union?
The unemployment fund and the union are two different organizations that serve different purposes for you in your professional life. The unemployment fund provides financial compensation if you become unemployed—and that's all it does. Fackförbundet ST supports you in your working life when you have a salary and a position. We offer support and advice regarding working conditions, salary negotiations, workplace environment, and your professional development. We constantly strive to improve your working conditions throughout your career. Together, the unemployment fund and the union work to ensure your basic security in all situations you might face at work.
You also need to be a member of both the union and an unemployment fund to benefit from the income insurance included in your membership with Fackförbundet ST.
Membership in Fackförbundet ST does not automatically mean you are also a member of the unemployment fund. You choose yourself whether or not to join an unemployment fund. However, for your financial security, we strongly recommend that you do so.
Learn more about membership in Fackförbundet ST.
Why should you join the unemployment fund?
When you are a member of an unemployment fund, you receive financial compensation if you become unemployed. To qualify, you need to be a member of the unemployment fund and meet certain employment and basic conditions. This ensures financial security if you are without a salary while searching for a new job.
You also need to be a member of a Swedish unemployment fund to receive compensation from the income insurance included in your membership with us. Feel free to contact the unemployment fund for more information.
How does the unemployment fund work?
As a member of an unemployment fund, you receive financial compensation based on your income if you become unemployed. You can receive up to a maximum of 80%, capped at 33,000 SEK per month. To qualify for income-related compensation, you must have been a member for 12 months and worked at least 6 months during that period. Compensation from the unemployment fund helps you manage financially until you find a new job.
Do I have to switch to ST's unemployment fund?
No, you don't have to. Fackförbundet ST does not require you to be connected specifically to ST's unemployment fund. You can be a member of any unemployment fund. If you later need to apply for compensation from the income insurance, the same rules apply regardless of whether you are a member of ST´s unemployment fund or another unemployment fund in the country. Keep in mind that you need to be a member of an unemployment fund to receive compensation from the union´s income insurance.
How do I switch unemployment funds?
Want to change unemployment funds? Contact your current unemployment fund and follow the instructions. Once you have received a withdrawal date, contact the unemployment fund you wish to join and apply for membership. It is important not to have any gap in your membership in an unemployment fund. Therefore, join the new unemployment fund starting from the day after your withdrawal date. Make sure to apply for membership in the new unemployment fund well in advance.
Differences between an unemployment fund and Fackförbundet ST
| Unemployment fund | Fackförbundet ST | |
|---|---|---|
| Financial compensation during unemployment | X | |
| Advice and support at your workplace and over the phone | X | |
| Legal help and negotiation support | X | |
| Income insurance for salaries above the unemployment fund´s cap (33,000 SEK) | X | |
| Personal advice ahead of salary negotiations | X | |
| Career planning, CV and cover letters auditing | X | |
| Free courses and seminars | X | |
| Someone working to improve working conditions | X |