Training and development in the Swedish context: structural change and a new paradigm?

This paper examines human resource development in Sweden. By way of context, it discusses socio‐cultural conditions, prevailing economic conditions and recent structural changes and employment and flexibility trends in Sweden. It sets down the characteristics of the national education and training system and examines recent policy developments. It presents Swedish data from the Cranet‐E survey in order to paint a picture of training and development practices at organisational level. The implications for employers, employees and government are outlined and the likely future challenges for training and development in Sweden are set down.