Debate: Heavy bureaucracy instead of fast track makes Sweden poorer
Sweden is missing out on highly sought-after global talent. Almost 99% of qualified IT experts, engineers and technicians from third countries meet the requirements for a work permit in Sweden. But the bureaucracy is too heavy and the uncertainty too great, causing these people to move to other countries. What is needed now is an express track for foreign talent, write Elin Lydahl, Director of Innovation Sweden, Åsa Zetterberg, Director of TechSverige and Klas Wåhlberg, CEO of Teknikföretagen.
Together, Teknikföretagen, TechSverige and Innovationsföretagen represent 6 400 companies with almost half a million employees in the knowledge-intensive industrial and service sectors. Every year, these companies recruit thousands of engineers, technicians and programmers from outside the EU. Not because it is convenient or for cost reasons, on the contrary. They do so to access the additional key skills needed to continue developing world-leading solutions and tomorrow's export successes, and to build a more sustainable and competitive society.
It is time to raise our sights and initiate strategic work to enhance Sweden's attractiveness to global talent. A national strategy should be developed as a matter of urgency, and Finland's choice to elevate this work to the highest political level should be taken as inspiration.
Åsa Zetterberg, Director of TechSverige
Elin Lydahl, Director of Innovation Business Sweden
Klas Wåhlberg, CEO of Teknikföretagen