Every tenth Swede unemployed despite the industry's needs

In January 2025, the Public Employment Service reported that unemployment was at the same level as during the pandemic. At the same time as unemployment is rising, industry is looking for personnel. A forecast shows that 145,000 people will be needed within the next two years to cover the needs of the industry.

However, there is a “mismatch” between the requirements of employers and the skills of job seekers. Industrial work is often considered low-skilled jobs that anyone can do. However, higher demands are placed on workers today, which makes it more difficult to recruit qualified labor.

During the 1960s labor immigration to Sweden, you could basically take a person and put them next to a machine. But today, many industry representatives say: you can call this a low-skilled profession if you want, but it's quite complicated, says Åslund.

There are no simple answers to the question of how to better match demand and supply in the labor market. Several governments have tried different strategies to solve the issue, including the ongoing upper secondary school reform that aims to adapt education to the needs of the industries. Åslund emphasizes the importance of companies themselves thinking in new ways and testing innovative methods to find the right skills.