In the Nordic countries, many LGBTI individuals experience poorer living conditions compared to the general population. Among them, trans people remain especially vulnerable, facing numerous challenges particularly within working life.

Building on the 2024 report Trans People’s Working Life Conditions in the Nordic Region, NIKK has continued its efforts through a new publication titled Trans People’s Working Life in Figures. This new report aims to illuminate the working life experiences of transgender individuals in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, drawing from the 2024 EU LGBTIQ Survey. Supplementary insights from national studies in Iceland and Norway further enrich the analysis.

Authored by Susanna Young Håkansson, analyst at the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research, the publication seeks to deepen understanding of the structural issues affecting trans people's participation in the workforce.

“Our 2023 knowledge review showed that the poor structural conditions many trans people face severely impact their finances, health, and overall quality of life. Yet, broader discussions about the impact of precarious working conditions on life as a whole are often missing,” Håkansson notes. “This new publication addresses that gap and provides a step forward in generating knowledge to improve the lives of trans people across the Nordic region.”

By compiling and analyzing data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Trans People’s Working Life in Figures links workplace conditions with broader aspects of well-being—such as health, housing, and economic security. The publication also underscores the importance of recognizing differences within the transgender community and how distinct gender identities shape their professional experiences.

The 2024 EU LGBTIQ Survey—the third and one of the world’s largest studies on the experiences of LGBTI individuals reveals that trans and intersex people continue to face high levels of hate-motivated violence, discrimination, and other forms of victimization, despite legal protections. Nevertheless, the data also show incremental improvements in areas such as public safety and visibility, with fewer respondents avoiding public displays of affection or certain locations due to fear.

Håkansson emphasizes that the findings of the new report can support advocacy and policy work:
“We hope this publication will assist Nordic labour market stakeholders in better identifying systemic discrimination and advancing their efforts to create more inclusive workplaces for trans people.”

Source: https://www.gu.se/en/news/new-data-on-the-working-conditions-of-transgender-people-summarised-in-nordic-publication