Businesses must be allowed to determine their need for foreign skills

With labor market testing, the government makes an already difficult challenge even worse. Instead, more people with qualified skills need to be able to work in Sweden, write Åsa Zetterberg, TechSverige and Klas Wåhlberg, Teknikföretagen in a joint debate article in Ny Teknik.

The tech sector and industry are closely linked. We hold many of the solutions for sustainable growth and development.

Swedish industry is a leader in the transition to green production and Swedish industrial companies have the lowest carbon footprint in the world. The industry's green transition is now taking new leaps, not least through the major investments being made in Norrland and Västra Götaland. Services and products from companies in the tech sector are leading to new smart solutions that contribute to the green transition.

IT and technology skills shortages are alarming

But we lack access to the skills needed for businesses to continue to grow, innovate and compete. The skills shortage in IT and technology was already alarming even before the new establishments around the country, establishments that in turn opened the doors to thousands of new jobs.

A new survey from Teknikföretagen shows that the skills shortage in the technology industry is particularly severe in the areas required for the green and digital transition, such as advanced skills in the IT area and in the battery area. A large proportion of Teknikföretagen's member companies estimate that they will have an even greater need in these professional areas within the next three years.

"Last year, around 7 500 IT architects, system developers, engineers and technicians were employed in Swedish companies from outside the EU."

According to a previous report by Tech Sweden, it is estimated that by 2024 there will be a shortage of 70,000 IT specialists in the tech sector in Sweden. The need for IT skills in business and society at large is far greater than that.

Competition for these talents and their recruitment is global, and the Swedish education system is not enough. Data from the Swedish Migration Agency shows that last year alone, around 7,500 IT architects, system developers, engineers and technicians were employed in Swedish companies from outside the EU. In terms of the number of permits granted, this occupational group is the largest if seasonal workers are excluded, which indicates that there is a great need for these professional skills.

Very good conditions to attract foreign skills

Sweden is fundamentally very well placed to attract skilled labor. The Swedish business climate and society have a good reputation. However, long processing times for work permits and the threat of deportation for minor mistakes have damaged Sweden's reputation among international talent.

Comparable countries in Europe and other parts of the world are working in a more systematic and coordinated way to attract skills from other countries. One example is our neighboring country Finland, which has a clear strategy and a concerted effort. We should be inspired by that.

Yet now comes an initiative in the opposite direction. Which makes matters worse. The government wants to appoint an inquiry to develop a new system for labor immigration, which includes labor market testing. In short, this means that designated actors, such as authorities like the Swedish Public Employment Service, will determine whether there is a need in the labor market for foreign labor.

This is the wrong way to go. It must be the companies that decide what the needs are. A labor market test is inherently blunt, leads to more uncertain processes and makes long processing times for work permits even longer.

Increased uncertainty and more barriers are the last thing we need.

Sweden needs to attract the qualified talent. Not keep them out.

Åsa Zetterberg, Director of Tech Sweden

Klas Wåhlberg, CEO of Teknikföretagen