Healthcare is streamlining – fewer temps hired

This shows the power when regions unite and do this together, says Johan Kaarme, head of SKR's healthcare and care division.

The desire to reduce temporary staff has existed for a long time. Behind the strong braking in 2023-2024 lies primarily an increased regional cooperation.

Partly, all regions have joined an agreement with common pricing for temporary staffing in healthcare, and partly, the regions have become better at helping each other, for example, in situations of shortage and queues.

The cost of temporary staff has been able to be pressed from approximately 9 billion kronor in 2023 to almost 6 billion kronor in 2024.

It is clear that it is positive that you can allocate the money you have spent on temporary staff to your own staff instead, says Johan Kaarme.

"Greater continuity"

The greatest advantage is that this enables greater continuity for patients. That is the major quality improvement, followed by the fact that it is easier to develop healthcare when working in a team with fixed colleagues.

But the new figures from the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) show large regional differences. In the three largest city regions, the cost of temporary staff has been able to be pressed down to one percent of the total personnel budget.

In regions such as Västernorrland, Norrbotten, and Jämtland Härjedalen, temporary staff account for 10-14 percent of total personnel costs.

Total costs for temporary nurses decreased by 51 percent and temporary doctors by 23 percent between 2023 and 2024.

Trade union concern

From a trade union perspective, there has been concern that it is the permanently employed staff who will pay the price for the reduction of temporary staff in the form of more overtime and tougher working conditions.

So far, SKR does not have full-year figures for 2024 that can show whether this concern is justified.

There are signs that overtime and sick leave have decreased, but it is something we need to continue to follow, of course, says Johan Kaarme.

Cecilia Klintö/TT

Facts: Large regional differences

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On average, the regions' costs for temporary staffing have been pressed from 5.1 percent of total personnel costs in 2023 to 3.1 percent in 2024.

In all of Sweden, temporary staffing costs have been pressed down by 36 percent in 2023-2024.

Share of temporary staffing costs of total personnel costs per region, measured in percent (with change in temporary staffing costs 2023-2024 in parentheses):

Blekinge: 8 percent (-11)

Dalarna: 4 (-27)

Gotland: 9 (-39)

Gävleborg: 9 (-34)

Halland: 4 (-32)

Jämtland Härjedalen: 10 (-26)

Jönköping: 3 (-28)

Kalmar: 5 (-23)

Kronoberg: 5 (-22)

Norrbotten: 10 (-31)

Skåne: 1 (-57)

Stockholm: 1 (-57)