International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Improving Access to Labour market Information for migrants and employers
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same as in 2010. The employment rate for foreign-born women is especially low
and they are also the only group that has a lower employment rate in 2011 than
in 2005. The employment gap is clearly visible in the unemployment rate which
is almost three times higher amongst the foreign born than the native born. It is
clear that the foreign-born population suffered the most from the economic crisis
in 2008 and 2009. As yet, they have not been able to benefit from the economic
recovery. Unemployment amongst the foreign born rose with about 4 percentage
points between 2008 and 2010, and in 2011 there was only a small improvement.
1.2. Current occupations/sectors in shortage and skills outlook
The Employment Service produces occupational forecasts twice a year. These
forecasts describe future prospects for almost 200 occupations in the labour
market. A ‘shortage index’ is used to quantify recruitment needs, using a weighted
average value from one to five. This index identifies the occupations (occupational
groups) where there is a shortage or surplus of applicants. The forecast predicts that
the number of employed persons will increase by 5,000 persons in 2012 and by
15,000 persons in 2013. Unemployment is expected to increase somewhat, which
is associated with an increase in the supply of labour. Up until 2013 employment
in both the manufacturing industry and public service is expected to decrease by
9,000. Other sectors, like the private service sector and the construction sectors are,
on the other hand, expected to see an increase in employment amounting to 32,000
and 6,000 respectively (Employment Service, 2012b). All in all, the competition for
available jobs will intensify and we will see a further increase in unemployment.
As in most countries there is a mismatch in Sweden between demand and supply in
the labour market. The major issue is that the group of low educational background
is growing while, at the same time, the number of low-skilled jobs is shrinking. The
Employment Service forewarns considerable future challenges in the labour market.
Many groups will experience growing competition for jobs, especially:
• persons with at most a compulsory school education;
• young persons, particularly those with insufficient education;
• persons born abroad, particularly those born outside of Europe;
• persons with a functional impairment and reduced working capacity;
• unemployed persons aged 55–64.
The number of persons belonging to those groups that have the greatest difficulty
in finding work quickly has continued to increase at a steady pace. This increase
depends partly on the transfer of persons from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency
to the Employment Service. In order to strengthen the work-first principle, a number
of regulatory reforms in social insurance meant that persons on long-term sick leave
lost their compensation and were referred to a labour market programme at the
Employment Service. There is also substantial immigration. The number of persons