Kjetil A. van der Wel

Kjetil A. van der Wel is a Professor of Social Policy at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. His research and teaching focus on social inequality in health, welfare, and living conditions, primarily using register data and surveys.

His research interests include:

• Social inequality in health
• Welfare state analysis
• Social exclusion and poverty
• Health-related inequalities in work participation
• Labor market exclusion
• Comparative health and social policy

Van der Wel's recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on Nordic welfare states, social inequality, and health outcomes. His work often employs register data and surveys to examine how social policies impact different population groups, particularly vulnerable populations. His research spans sociology, public health, and social policy, with a particular emphasis on longitudinal and comparative analyses across Nordic countries and Europe, focusing on social stratification, health disparities, and policy evaluation.

He has secured significant research funding for multiple projects including:

• WelfareExperiences (ERC project as Country PI)
• BOVEL (social welfare technology)
• WELLDEBT (debt problems)
• O4O (disadvantaged groups within the NAV system)
• WELLIFE (Welfare state life courses, 2016-2022)

From 2020-2023, van der Wel served as Head of the Living Conditions, Health, Work and Social Inequality Unit at the Institute of Social Work, Child Welfare & Social Policy. He has contributed extensively to societal debate and policy discussions within social security, work and sick leave, and social inequality in health, collaborating with Norwegian governmental bodies including the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration.