New report: Sweden needs an annual influx of 18,000 tech specialists

The demand for tech workers is growing. Between 2024 and 2028, around 18 000 tech specialists will be needed annually. The need for labor is both in the tech industry, other businesses and the public sector. Skills in AI and security are becoming increasingly important. This is shown in TechSverige's new report Skills needs in tech.

- The extensive digitization and AI development taking place both in Sweden and globally means that the demand for tech skills is growing all the time. Demand is increasing not only in the tech industry, but throughout business and the public sector. The economic downturn last year and the global situation have contributed to a certain slowdown in some areas, but if we look over time, the need for tech skills remains strong," says Ana Andric, industry policy expert at TechSverige.

Today, over 200,000 people work in tech professions in the Swedish labor market and software and system developers are Sweden's fifth most common profession. Since 2014, there has been a marked increase in the number of people employed in tech occupations. In absolute terms, the largest increase has been in the tech sector, but in percentage terms the increase is larger in other sectors.

- Good access to tech skills is crucial for Sweden. It is a prerequisite for the competitiveness of the entire business sector and for creating growth, managing welfare and the climate transition. The need for specialists in tech is growing, which creates many opportunities for all those who are interested in tech," says Åsa Zetterberg, Director of TechSverige.

18,000 people annually by 2028
TechSverige's report shows that the number of specialists in tech in the tech industry needs to increase by 30 percent, about 10,000 people per year by 2028. In the rest of the business sector and in the public sector, the need is estimated to grow by 15-17 percent, corresponding to about 8,000 people per year until 2028. In total, an additional 18,000 specialists in tech are needed annually until 2028.

The need for skills in information and cyber security and AI is growing strongly and becoming more important in all sectors and industries. The most in-demand occupational category in the tech sector is software and systems developers and in other sectors IT support technicians. In terms of educational background, the demand for university graduates is consistently high, and in the tech sector the demand for engineers is particularly high.

Sweden needs ambitious targets and to attract more people to tech
To meet the demand for tech skills and future-proof Sweden, TechSverige believes that the government should join forces and set an ambitious volume target that ensures access to digital excellence. By 2030, the ambition should be to increase the number of tech specialists by 100,000.  

- Many countries have set high goals and are working purposefully to get more people interested in and educated in tech. We are also doing a lot in Sweden, but more needs to be done. As an industry, we must continue to work to attract more people. Continuous skills development through working life must be promoted and labor immigration simplified. Efforts are also needed throughout the education system to better meet the skills needs of the tech sector and the labor market," says Åsa Zetterberg.

Read the report: Skills needs in tech