Do You Need to Change A-kassa?
It’s common to wonder whether you need to change unemployment insurance fund when you change jobs, industry, or trade union. But if you are a member of Akademikernas a‑kassa, the answer is almost always no. Our membership is based on your education – not on what you happen to be working with right now – which means you can feel secure throughout your entire professional life. Here we explain what applies and when it may be relevant to review your coverage.
You choose for yourself which a‑kassa you want to belong to
In Sweden, membership is voluntary and you decide for yourself which a‑kassa suits you best. There are no requirements to change just because you change workplace, professional role, or industry.
What matters is that you are a member of an a‑kassa – not which one.
As a member with us, you rarely need to change
Akademikernas a‑kassa is open to everyone with an academic education. This means that you can:
change employer
change industry
move between the private and public sector
work part‑time, full‑time, or be between jobs
change trade union
start and run your own business
…and still safely remain with us.
It is your education that matters – not your job title, workplace, or whether you are employed or self‑employed.
Entrepreneurs can also continue to be members
Many people think they have to change a‑kassa when they start their own business, but that’s not the case.
As an entrepreneur with an academic education, you can continue to be a member with us, whether you run your business full‑time or combine entrepreneurship with employment.
What matters is that you meet the rules for entrepreneurs in the unemployment insurance – not which industry you work in.
What happens to the income insurance if I change trade union?
The a‑kassa and the trade union are two separate memberships. This means you can:
remain in Akademikernas a‑kassa
while at the same time changing trade union
Most income insurance policies still apply when you change unions, as long as you meet the conditions of the new union.
But the rules can differ, so it is always wise to double‑check with the new union.
When might it be relevant to change a‑kassa?
For the vast majority of academics, there is no reason to change a‑kassa. If you are a member of Akademikernas a‑kassa, you can safely remain throughout your entire professional life – regardless of whether you change jobs, industry, employer, trade union, or start your own business. Your education determines your membership, not the work you do.
But there are two situations where a change may be relevant:
1. You are an academic but not yet a member with us
If you have an academic education and are currently a member of another a‑kassa, it may be more beneficial to switch to Akademikernas a‑kassa.
We are open to everyone with a university or college degree, regardless of industry or professional role.
It may be relevant to switch to us if you:
have an academic degree
work in a profession where your education is more relevant than the industry
want an a‑kassa that follows you throughout your entire professional life
2. You are moving to Denmark or Finland
If you move to another Nordic country, their own unemployment insurance systems apply. You then need to join their a‑kassa to be covered.
Denmark: join a Danish a‑kasse
Finland: join a Finnish työttömyyskassa
It is important that you apply for membership in the new country before you end your Swedish membership, so that you do not get a gap in your insurance coverage.
List of all a-kassor in Sweden
We believe that everyone who works should be a member of an unemployment insurance fund. If you cannot join ours, there are 23 others to choose from. Here we list all unemployment insurance funds in Sweden.
A-kassan Vision
Akademikernas a-kassa
Alfa-kassan
Byggnads a-kassa
Elektrikernas a-kassa
Fastighets a-kassa
Finans- och försäkringsbranschens a-kassa
GS a-kassa
Handelsanställdas a-kassa
Hotell- och restauranganställdas a-kassa
IF Metalls a-kassa
Journalisternas a-kassa
Kommunals a-kassa
Ledarnas a-kassa
Livsmedelsarbetarnas a-kassa
Lärarnas a-kassa
Pappers a-kassa
Sekos a-kassa
Småföretagarnas a-kassa
STs a-kassa
Sveriges arbetares a-kassa
Transports a-kassa
Unionens a-kassa
Our unions
As a member with us, you can take out an additional income insurance through your trade union. With the a‑kassa and the union’s income insurance, you can receive up to 80 percent of your entire salary in the event of unemployment.
Our trade unions