Language Requirements and Language Testing in Elderly Care Recruitment – What, How and Why?
Short description
Several Swedish municipalities have introduced, or are considering introducing, Swedish language tests as part of recruitment processes in elderly care. This project examines how such language requirements are formulated and justified in municipal policy, as well as what language tests actually assess.
The project highlights how Swedish language proficiency is framed in policy as a matter of quality, safety, working conditions and professional competence in elderly care. It also investigates how language tests are designed and what they are intended to measure.
Several Swedish municipalities have introduced, or are considering introducing, Swedish language tests as part of recruitment processes in elderly care. This project examines how such language requirements are formulated and justified in municipal policy, as well as what language tests actually assess.
The project highlights how Swedish language proficiency is framed in policy as a matter of quality, safety, working conditions and professional competence in elderly care. It also investigates how language tests are designed and what they are intended to measure.
About the project
The project consists of two ongoing sub-studies. The first analyses municipal motions, council records and preparatory documents in three municipalities using Carol Bacchi’s WPR approach, *What’s the Problem Represented to Be?* The study examines how language requirements and the introduction of language testing are constructed and what problems they are expected to solve.
The second sub-study examines language tests and assessment materials used in relation to recruitment within elderly care. It investigates how Swedish language proficiency is defined, which language skills are assessed and under what conditions assessment takes place.
Through this project, we aim to contribute knowledge about how language requirements and language testing may affect recruitment, workforce supply and inclusion in multilingual elderly care settings.
Collaboration with municipalities
The project also involves collaboration with municipalities on issues related to language requirements and language assessment in elderly care. The starting point for the project is the knowledge needs and challenges that arise when language requirements are to be understood, implemented and managed in practice. Through dialogue, the project facilitates an exchange of perspectives on how municipalities themselves understand and address issues relating to language requirements and language assessment in everyday elderly care practice.
The issue has become particularly relevant in light of new legislation introducing language requirements in Swedish elderly care. The project therefore seeks to contribute to broader knowledge exchange and critical reflection on how language requirements can be designed, understood and evaluated in ways that take into account the communicative, organisational and multilingual conditions of elderly care.
Researchers
The project is conducted by Jasmine Bylund, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Education and Special Education, and Clara Palm, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Swedish, Multilingualism, Language Technology.
Funding
The project was awarded funding from the Erik Wellander Fund in 2024 and received collaboration funding from the University of Gothenburg’s Academy and Society Programme in 2026.