By analysing how changes in social security systems are motivated, how they are implemented and what consequences they entail for the individual, this dissertation shows how ideological shifts within the Swedish work strategy are put into practice. The findings presented stress that the responsibility for exiting unemployment and/or sick leave has become increasingly a matter for the individual to handle on their own. This is done mainly by lowering the degree of economic and social support to individuals whilst being labour market absent, but also by neglecting investment in long-term efforts aiming to tackle the challenges of labour market absence. Instead, the political strategy is characterised by reducing labour market absence through increasing the supervision and control of individuals living on welfare allowance. The essence of this logic can be summarised by the idea that the individual must be disciplined, activated and, above all, compliant. Combined with a threat of economic sanctions, the individual is steered towards a flexible unemployed individual with the “right” attitude, thus more easily matching today’s pickier labour market. Where work in Sweden previously was a matter of the individual’s right, focus has shifted towards the obligation—in a more unconditional manner—to stand at the disposal of labour market needs and adjust to the demands placed there. This means that the essence of work in the Swedish welfare state has ultimately been transferred towards a more distinct disciplinary domain.