The Swedish Armed Forces have had a constant shortage of meteorologists for the past two decades. Currently, approximately 15 out of 60 positions are vacant. The need for meteorologists is increasing with the military's rearmament and NATO missions.
Even at SMHI, where around 80 meteorologists work on forecast production, vacancies have led to long working hours and pressured staff.
Paid education
To fill the gaps, SMHI is shifting tasks between its three offices in Gothenburg, Norrköping and Uppsala. The agency is also hiring hourly meteorologists, often retired, to come in and work extra.
Partly because it makes production easier, but also because they have extensive experience and broad expertise, says Therese Gadd, group manager for SMHI's forecast production in Gothenburg.
However, she does not have an exact figure for how large the vacancies are.
The Defense Department has gone from previously only recruiting qualified meteorologists to now offering students a monthly salary of 26,000 SEK during their studies.
Now things have changed; we have had more people studying to become meteorologists again, says Ylva Bjernhed, major and defense meteorologist at the Swedish Armed Forces Weather Service.
Half of them drop out
The main reason for the shortage is that the education - which is given at Stockholm and Uppsala universities - is extremely demanding. The education lasts a total of five years, but after four years of study you are employable as a forecast meteorologist. The first two years consist almost exclusively of advanced mathematics and physics.
"Meteorology is basically just about physics - applied to the atmosphere. The education is tough, and in the first year I usually lose 50 percent of the students," says Ingrid Eronn, study advisor at the Department of Meteorology at Stockholm University, which has 25 study places.
Every year, at best, around 20 meteorologists are trained in Sweden, and many of the students come from abroad, according to Ingrid Eronn.
After increased marketing of the education on social media and at trade fairs, the situation looks brighter. The number of applicants has increased in the last two years. Last year, all education places in Stockholm were filled, and more students than in a long time are now completing their studies.
