Staffan Nilsson is an associate professor in education in the Department of education, Stockholm University. His main research interests are related to issues concerning the relationship among education, learning and work, professionalisation, professionalism, graduate employability, organisational strategies and methods for securing the long-term supply of competence, for example, talent management, recruitment, and on the structural balance between demand and supply of competence on the labour market.

Selection of publications

Antera, S., & Nilsson, S. (2025). Competence profiles of vocational teachers in Sweden. International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 12(3), 410–432.

https://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.12.3.5

Nilsson, S., & Bengtsson, A. (2025). On the professional competence of career guidance counsellors: expectations and experiences of graduating students in Sweden. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 53(1), 114–127.

https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2024.2396113

Nilsson, S., & Hertzberg, F. (2022). On the Professionalism and Professionalisation of Career Guidance and Counselling in Sweden. Nordic Journal of Transitions, Careers and Guidance, 3(1), 1–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16993/njtcg.38

Antera, S., Teräs, M., Nilsson, S., & Rehn, H. (2022). Important and achieved competence for Swedish vocational teachers: A survey with teachers and principals. Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 12(1), 76–102. https://doi.org/10.3384/njvet.2242-458X.2212176

Nilsson, S. (2017). Employability, Employment and the Establishment of Higher Education Graduates in the Labour Market. in M. Tomlinson & L. Holmes. Graduate Employability in Context: Theory, Research and Debate. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 65–85. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57168-7_3

Nilsson, S. (2016/2009). Om anställningsbarhet i professionella grupper. in A. Fejes & G. Berglund. Anställningsbarhet: Perspektiv från utbildning och arbetsliv. Andra upplagan/Första upplagan. Studentlitteratur, Lund, pp. 123–38/pp. 71–86.

Nilsson, S., & Viberg, A. (2016). Om anställningsbarhet och etablering bland högskoleutbildade. in A. Fejes & G. Berglund. Anställningsbarhet: Perspektiv från utbildning och arbetsliv. Andra upplagan. Studentlitteratur, Lund, pp. 37–58.

Nilsson, S., & Rubenson, K. (2014). On the determinants of employment-related organised education and informal learning. Studies in Continuing Education, 36(3), 304–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2014.904785

Nilsson, S., & Ekberg, K. (2014). Förutsättningar för arbetsförmåga och anställningsbarhet på arbetsmarknaden. in K. Ekberg. (red.). Den relativa arbetsförmågan. Studentlitteratur, Lund, pp. 109–124. 

Nilsson, S., & Nyström, S. (2013). Adult learning, education, and the labour market in the employability regime. European Journal for Research on the Education and Learning of Adults, 4(2), 171–187. https://doi.org/10.3384/rela.2000-7426.rela9007

Nilsson, S., & Ekberg, K. (2013). Employability and work ability: Returning to the labour market after long-term absence. Work: A journal of prevention, assessment and rehabilitation, 44(4), 449–457. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-1402

Nilsson, S., & Ellström P.E. (2012). Employability and Talent Management: Challenges for HRD practices. European Journal of Training and Development, 36(1), 26-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090591211192610

Nilsson, S. (2010). On the Meaning of Higher Education in Professional Practice. Journal of Education and Work, 23(3), 255–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2010.486397

Nilsson, S. (2010). Enhancing Individual Employability. Education + Training, 52(6/7), 540–551.  https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911011068487

Nilsson S. (2007). From Higher Education To Professional Practice: A comparative study of physicians’ and engineers’ learning and competence use. Linköping Studies in Behavioural Science No. 120. The Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University.

Nilsson, S., Carstensen, J. M., & Pershagen, G. (2001). Mortality among male and female smokers in Sweden: A 33 year follow up. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 55(11), 825–830. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.55.11.825