Hello CEO: Sara Murby Forste, Orange

There has long been a skills shortage in tech, and now the need for IT specialists is acute. 70,000 IT specialists are missing. Sara Murby Forste wants to see more action from the industry to increase interest in tech and promote digital inclusion.

- The tech industry has been working for a long time on various initiatives, but of course there is more to do. One thing I think we can all get better at is not talking about "tech" as a separate profession, but instead talking about what "tech" can bring value to individuals, organizations and societies, what we actually do. I also believe that there is an outdated image of what an "IT technician" is and does and that work is needed to get rid of that image, so that more people, not least women, are interested in working in tech. We need to highlight different types of roles in tech, such as system architect, project manager, product developer and so on, but also to talk more about the tasks involved instead of talking about positions. We also need to support schools at an early stage and integrate "tech" as a natural part of schooling to create interest early on. Tech is a natural part of our everyday lives, and should also be a natural part of our children's everyday lives. We need to increase the visibility of tech role models in schools and on digital platforms where young people are present, such as social media.

How is Orange working to secure the need for tech skills?
- This is a strategic and important issue for our business and is crucial for our continued growth. One of our key areas is of course to be the best place in the world to work. When people choose a place to work today, it is very much driven by values, people want to work for a company that is ethical and takes responsibility for society and the environment. So we have an ambitious program for the environment and to become climate neutral, but also for community involvement where our staff also contribute in various activities and which we as an employer support. Other issues are about being a workplace that provides development and sees individuals and you as a person. Here we work both with value-driven leadership but also systematic work with plans for long-term professional and personal development. Investing in our staff who are with us is the most important thing. But of course we also need to recruit and grow with new staff and here we also work in several different ways:

• We cooperate with vocational colleges and offer LIA (learning in employment)
• We have a fast-track program for new employees where they get to work and learn at the same time and from that basis choose the way forward in a specialization. This is done within the first 12 months.
• We have a dedicated recruitment team that knows our business well and reaches out to the right candidates
• For some roles we recruit all over Sweden even if the workplace is in Stockholm, this has been made possible by our hybrid way of working today where people work both from home and from the office. They don't have to move to take the job, which broadens our ability to find the right staff.
• We also recruit for potential and not just experience, if the person themselves is right for us and what we want to achieve we can offer the right skills development to enable them to learn and develop in the techniques or methods that are important to us and our customers

How to increase the entry and completion rates of tech education in higher education and universities of applied sciences?
- Increasing entry is about creating more places, making the courses and these career paths attractive, and making young people want a career in our industry. Of course, we want everyone who actually starts a course to complete it. Today, there are good vocational colleges with shorter training periods, and there are longer programs at the major universities and technical colleges. There are both practical programs and more theoretical ones. We cooperate with schools and sometimes sit in groups where we discuss the content of the program in the education. I think we have what is needed, but that we can increase capacity and ensure that young people understand how exciting our industry is and apply for it. We in the industry can contribute by working closely with schools, attending career days and making sure we are visible in educational contexts. We can also increase opportunities to host students in training for, for example, their LIA periods (learning in employment) which is a good way to get in touch with students early and hopefully create a good relationship from both sides that can potentially also lead to a job with a shorter learning period than in a new job.

How can the conditions for transition and skills development in the labor market be improved?
- We need several different models to be able to adapt their skills. This could be support from an existing employer or flexibility to go down in time and study part-time in various digital distance learning programs, here the supply in IT can certainly be increased and offer both full-time and part-time studies. It is important that there is financial support that is sufficient to be able to study again in adulthood when you may have a family to take care of. Together with flexible solutions, we may be able to lower the threshold for individuals with an interest in retraining, but who do not dare to leave a secure permanent job / their home town to study a completely new field.

What do you have to say to the next government to secure the need for tech skills?
- Increase the number of places at universities and colleges, create more types of transition support. Ensure that processing times for labor immigration are fast. Our industry hires a lot of skills from abroad when we can't find them in Sweden and they are crucial to supporting our growth. We need to be an attractive country to come to, but we need to be predictable so that people who are moving with their families and leaving their country can plan well in advance. Processing times must therefore be predictable. Today, delays are a major problem.