SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

The Mission: Getting a Thousand Laid-Off Workers to Stay

After the battery manufacturer Northvolt's massive layoff notice on Monday, the municipality is mobilizing to get those who are laid off to stay. We will do everything we can to try to catch them, says municipal director Kristina Sundin Jonsson.

» Updated: 06 October 2024, 19:36

» Published: 24 September 2024

The Mission: Getting a Thousand Laid-Off Workers to Stay
Photo: Gustav Sjöholm/TT

Skellefteå has grown rapidly in recent years. Every week, 50-100 people moved into the municipality last year, about a third of them from abroad.

It's clear that Northvolt has been a huge injection for Skellefteå, which has meant a lot for our extremely strong population growth. But we usually say that this journey started earlier, says Kristina Sundin Jonsson, municipal director.

She was prepared for Monday's massive layoff warning. A heavy message.

Naturally, this was a very sad message for Skellefteå and not least for the people who may be affected. 1,000 people in a layoff warning is an extremely high number, she says.

The Right Time and Place

At the same time, it's possible that the layoff warning comes at the right place at the right time. During the year, unemployment has fallen below 3 percent. With the help of the county administrative board, the Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, other authorities, the business community, and civil society, they will try to keep the laid-off workers in the region.

We see that we really need this workforce. We have major needs in the welfare sector. We have an industry that is crying out for labor. So we will do everything we can to try to catch them.

The municipality also needs to hire and, according to Sundin Jonsson, may be able to absorb some of the laid-off workers.

Absolutely. We have major needs, for example, in healthcare and care, she says, adding that adult education is already activated, and that they are in dialogue with other educational actors.

We'll see the willingness of those who are laid off, of course. But we will try all means.

Requires Education

And what does it take for a battery worker from Northvolt to be able to work in home care or elderly care?

It requires basic education and language skills. Now, most of them are English-speaking, which may also facilitate, she says.

Many Skellefteå residents are wondering what will happen to all the construction projects, and the housing prices that have skyrocketed.

Still, it's happening that people are moving to Skellefteå every week. One of our big problems and challenges is the significant housing shortage we actually have. Next year, we had a forecast that only about a couple of hundred would be built, and we would need maybe 800-1,000. Right now, we're mainly struggling to catch up with housing construction, says Kristina Sundin Jonsson.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Took a tough stance on crypto companies - resigns
1 MIN READ

Took a tough stance on crypto companies - resigns

Ingvar Carlsson on PG: "A very loyal friend"
2 MIN READ

Ingvar Carlsson on PG: "A very loyal friend"

No Wage Guarantee in American Process
1 MIN READ

No Wage Guarantee in American Process

He became "PG" to the entire Swedish people
3 MIN READ

He became "PG" to the entire Swedish people

PG Gyllenhammar has died: "meant a lot"
1 MIN READ

PG Gyllenhammar has died: "meant a lot"

Unstable US stock market ends on a plus
1 MIN READ

Unstable US stock market ends on a plus

Temu's owner shows its hand
1 MIN READ

Temu's owner shows its hand

Nvidia rises in pre-trading on Wall Street
1 MIN READ

Nvidia rises in pre-trading on Wall Street

Reconstruction in the USA to save Northvolt
3 MIN READ

Reconstruction in the USA to save Northvolt

Northvolt: Negotiations are still ongoing
3 MIN READ

Northvolt: Negotiations are still ongoing

Higher Compensation for Job Interviews in Another Location
1 MIN READ

Higher Compensation for Job Interviews in Another Location

Vehicle Giant Warns of Challenges in 2025
1 MIN READ

Vehicle Giant Warns of Challenges in 2025

Unchanged interest rate in Turkey
1 MIN READ

Unchanged interest rate in Turkey

Trump anxiety in the EU over US tariffs
3 MIN READ

Trump anxiety in the EU over US tariffs

Weak demand for scrapping premium
1 MIN READ

Weak demand for scrapping premium

E-fuel company takes in half a billion
1 MIN READ

E-fuel company takes in half a billion

New Report Boost for AI Giant Nvidia's Share
2 MIN READ

New Report Boost for AI Giant Nvidia's Share

Stockholm Stock Exchange Turned Upwards
1 MIN READ

Stockholm Stock Exchange Turned Upwards

Bitcoin closer to the dream limit
1 MIN READ

Bitcoin closer to the dream limit

Higher fee to stop burning of plastic
2 MIN READ

Higher fee to stop burning of plastic