The report shows that almost 300,000 of Sweden's municipal and regional employees were born in other countries.
The proportion of foreign-born monthly salaried employees in municipalities increased from 13 to 22 percent in the years 2014–2024. In the regions, the proportion increased from 14 to 20 percent in the same period.
More and more people born abroad have sought employment there and have therefore become increasingly important for the supply of skills in welfare, says Bodil Umegård, head of SKR's data and analysis section.
Many of them have come to Sweden at some point in the last ten years.
Over half of all nursing assistants, 53 percent, were born outside Sweden. Among nurses, this figure is 37 percent, dentists 46 percent and doctors with specialist qualifications 37 percent.
Demographic challenges
Looking ahead, there are certain demographic challenges for welfare, not least as the birth rate has decreased over time.
The number of people of working age (20–66) certainly increased by 500,000 in the previous ten years, but:
The increase consisted of those born abroad. If you look only at those born in Sweden, there was no increase, says Bodil Umegård.
Sweden's more restrictive migration policy therefore risks affecting the supply of skills in welfare.
"One can only conclude that significantly fewer people will come to Sweden from other countries in the future, which may also make it more difficult to recruit employees for welfare," says Umegård.
“More open”
According to SKR, surveys show that young people born abroad are more open to working in welfare. This is noticeable in the education.
Over the past ten years, the proportion of foreign-born freshmen in the nursing program has increased from 10 to 28 percent. In the dental program, the increase was 20 to 57 percent.
We see that the foreign-born group is more open, they don't completely close the door to any profession. Especially when it comes to interest in jobs in healthcare.
Since 2018, the proportion of foreign-born monthly paid care assistants has increased from just under 30 to just over 50 percent.
Within the municipalities, the proportion of foreign-born nurses has increased from 25 to 37 percent during the same period, and within the regions it has gone from 19 to 28 percent.
Broken down into personnel groups, the total proportion of foreign-born employees is: care assistants 53 percent, nurses 37 percent, dentists 46 percent and doctors with specialist qualifications 37 percent.
Four out of ten foreign-born employees in municipalities and regions have come to Sweden at some point since 2010.
Approximately 4,000 doctors, 2,000 nurses and 33,000 nursing assistants and care assistants have come to Sweden in the last ten years.
Source: Swedish Municipalities and Regions
