Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld 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

The Government Seeks Support for Those Affected by Northvolt
1 MIN READ

The Government Seeks Support for Those Affected by Northvolt

The regional tax will be raised next year
1 MIN READ

The regional tax will be raised next year

Astra Zeneca's China Chief Arrested by Police
1 MIN READ

Astra Zeneca's China Chief Arrested by Police

More rate cuts - but risk of turmoil with Trump
2 MIN READ

More rate cuts - but risk of turmoil with Trump

Svantesson: Trump's policy may increase inflation
2 MIN READ

Svantesson: Trump's policy may increase inflation

Major Banks Lower Mortgage Rates
1 MIN READ

Major Banks Lower Mortgage Rates

Central Bank Economist: Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate Too Late
2 MIN READ

Central Bank Economist: Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate Too Late

How You Are Affected by Lowered Interest Rates
2 MIN READ

How You Are Affected by Lowered Interest Rates

Thedéen expects turmoil after Trump's victory
2 MIN READ

Thedéen expects turmoil after Trump's victory

Inflation upswing does not threaten interest rate cuts
3 MIN READ

Inflation upswing does not threaten interest rate cuts

Stockholm Stock Exchange rises after interest rate cut
1 MIN READ

Stockholm Stock Exchange rises after interest rate cut

Most up on Asian stock exchanges
1 MIN READ

Most up on Asian stock exchanges

This is how your wallet can be affected by Trump's victory
2 MIN READ

This is how your wallet can be affected by Trump's victory

Cheerful on Wall Street after Trump win
1 MIN READ

Cheerful on Wall Street after Trump win

Thousand-kronor notes to be picked up when the Central Bank increases the pace
3 MIN READ

Thousand-kronor notes to be picked up when the Central Bank increases the pace

Swish up and running again after disruption
1 MIN READ

Swish up and running again after disruption

Trump's company is soaring on the stock exchange
1 MIN READ

Trump's company is soaring on the stock exchange

Swedish Export Threatened by Trump Victory
2 MIN READ

Swedish Export Threatened by Trump Victory

Sameby's appeal against mining company rejected
1 MIN READ

Sameby's appeal against mining company rejected

Inflation Expectations Fall
1 MIN READ

Inflation Expectations Fall