Christian Ståhl

Professor

I am a sociologist and teaching about climate, work, working life and welfare systems. My research focus is on green transition and working life, as well as policy development and societal change.

Green transition and working life

My research is about how society and working life need to adapt due to climate change, how this affects different sectors of the labour market, and how the issue of a good life and a good society can be handled in light of the climate crisis. I lead the research group GROWL (Greening of Working Life) which focuses on these issues in various projects. My research also focuses on people's relationship to work and working life, and how the welfare system works in the event of illness and unemployment. A central part of my research includes theoretical development, based on climate, resonance, reflexivity and social change, among other things.

News

Universal basic income can improve mental health

Can a universal basic income be an alternate to benefits for people who have been long unemployed? A new report from Linköping University has examined for official bodies in Östergötland whether such a solution is worth testing.

Lower demands at work to reduce burnout

There is no support for the idea that high demands at work can be compensated by increased freedom of action and social support. This is a myth: the demands in themselves can lead to burnout.

Publications

Recent publications

2026

Daniel Lundqvist, Cathrine Reineholm, Christian Ståhl (2026)

Organizational conditions for OHSM: Comparing managers and OHS representatives in organizations with different gender distribution Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10519815261495036

Marcus Persson, Christian Ståhl (2026)

Vägar till den tvära sociologin Sociologisk forskning, Vol. 63 (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.37062/sf.63.29361

Linda Corin, Lisa Bjork, Gunnel Hensing, Carin Staland-Nyman, Stephen Stansfeld, Christian Ståhl, Monica Bertilsson (2026)

On the frontlines: Identifying individual and organizational factors associated with managerial perceived ability to take actions to prevent sickness absence in employees with mental health problems Scandinavian Journal of Management, Vol. 42, Article 101470 (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2026.101470

Research projects

GROWL: Greening of Working Life

To meet climate goals, the world of work must undergo a transformation. The GROWL research group focuses on the people, organizations, and policies involved in the green transition of working life.

Isometric virtual office with business people working together and mobile devices: business management, online communication and finance concept.

Work environment management: conditions and consequences

The work environment is important for people in working life. Still, there is a lack of knowledge regarding management of work environment and health, and what impact this has for how the work environment develops.

An inclusive labour market?

Increased demands in working life have resulted in many people being outside the regular labor market. This research project examines labour market policy measures for jobseekers with disabilities.

Organisation

Three people disussing. They are at a warehouse.

Division of Education and Sociology (APS)

Sustainable work and working life is the focus of the division’s research and education covering both pedagogy and sociology. Current research projects concern learning, leadership, equality, health and working conditions.

Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (IBL)

Human behaviour and learning is the focus for education and research at the department. We educate students and scientists that are well equipped to meet future challenges in society and working life.