The purpose of the user councils is to create a system of organised user contacts to continually provide Statistics Sweden with knowledge about the new and changing needs for statistics and to obtain the views of key users regarding changes in the statistics. User councils form a network of information, whereby Statistics Sweden can spread and get feedback on ideas and plans. The user councils have an active and advisory role. The user council members also receive comprehensive information regarding Statistics Sweden, such as the annual report, business plan, budget, etc.
The discussions in the user councils are documented and an annual activity report is submitted. The activity reports summarize the work carried out by the user councils, and these reports are included in Statistics Sweden's annual report.

Statistics Sweden's user councils

• User council for labour market statistics
• User council for population, demographics and integration
• User council for democracy statistics
• User council for economic statistics
• User council for statistics on research and development
• User council for regional statistics
• User council for urban management statistics
• User council for environment and environmental-economic accounts
• User council for living conditions and equality
• User council for communication
• User council for education statistics

Instructions for Statistics Sweden’s user councils decided by the Director-General

• The user councils have an advisory role and shall represent the users of the government funded statistics that Statistics Sweden is responsible for within each subject area. This refers to both the general needs for statistical information and the more specific needs of different users.
• The subject area user councils shall address issues relating to the need for new statistics, the development and improvement of existing statistics and priorities and re-prioritisation for the next financial year.
• The user councils shall be given the opportunity to monitor both the plans and previous year's activities in the relevant subject area.
• The user councils shall appropriately document their views and prioritize proposals that are considered for inclusion in Statistics Sweden's budget proposal.
• The user councils for communication and regional statistics shall advise Statistics Sweden regarding how appropriation-funded statistics is communicated and how the regional dimension is considered.
• The user councils shall submit an annual activity report to Statistics Sweden. The reports provide the basis for reporting the user councils' activities in Statistics Sweden's annual report.
• The chair and members of the councils are appointed by the Director-General on the initiative of the relevant department and unit heads for a term of three years.
• The user councils shall have at least two meetings a year.
• The meetings shall be documented in minutes.
• The minutes are submitted to the council chair for comments and are approved within one month after the meeting. The approved minutes are sent to the members and published on Statistics Sweden’s website.
• The minutes shall be kept by the Director-General's Office for three years after which they shall be archived.
• Statistics Sweden is responsible for the secretariat function for all user councils.
• The user councils may invite experts to attend.
• The user councils may also address general statistical issues that regard several user councils, and they may organize