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Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to examine how administrators and service users at an employment agency in Sweden regard the relationship between them in joint meetings. Furthermore we want to analyse what role the aspect of power plays in the meetings and to what extent service users participate in shaping the way in which the employment agency works. The study is based on a quantitative survey that has the aim of examining aspects concerning power, participation and relations. To be able to analyse two different points of view we designed and distributed two comparable surveys to both administrators and service users at an employment centre in a larger city in southern Sweden. We analysed our survey results considering previous research and applying our two main theoretical perspectives that deal with power and service user participation. Our conclusion is that a power-imbalance exists, and that both parts are aware of the fact that the administrator has more power in comparison to the service user. An obvious result is that the service user group is a more heterogeneous group than the administrators who answered in a more homogeneous fashion. Additionally there is a perceived need for an increase in user participation, which is basically non-existent at this point. With the growing interest in evidence-based practice in social work, user participation is an especially important point to consider in improving the work procedures of the employment agency. We have also concluded that there is a lack in the resource of time for both the number and length of meetings, and the resource of time has been shown to be one of the key elements for meeting the goal of conveying employment. The number of vulnerable groups at the employment centre is increasing, which increases the average amount of time required for meetings with individuals and this requires adjustment in the working structures of the employment agency.