Skellefteå Municipality continues to act to ensure that competence remains
Today, on February 21, Statistics Sweden presented its population statistics for 2024. The figures show that Skellefteå Municipality has experienced strong growth for most of last year, but the large layoff notice issued at the end of September has affected both immigration and emigration. Therefore, efforts to retain skilled workers remain a high priority.
- Skellefteå Municipality has a great need for skilled workers and must continue to work actively to both attract new residents and retain those already living here. All efforts currently being made are important for the municipality, local businesses, and society as a whole. Everyone who wants to live, work, and thrive here is important, says Evelina Fahlesson (S), Vice Chair of the Municipal Executive Committee and Chair of the Personnel Committee.
Population development for the year of 2024 shows that Skellefteå Municipality went from having 76,542 residents at the beginning of the year to 78 150 residents at the end of 2024. This resulted in a total increase of 1 608 residents for the full year. Since the end of September, a decline has been observed, as the number of arrivals has decreased while emigrations have increased. The largest change in net migration is attributed to emigrations abroad, but emigrations within Sweden and within Västerbotten have also increased. Immigration within Västerbotten has been the least affected.
Since the layoff notice, several important measures have been taken to ensure that skilled workers stay, and that people who have settled in Skellefteå Municipality have the opportunity to remain here. Some of these initiatives include Meet & Match, where job seekers and employers had a chance to meet, as well as language and introduction employment programs. Around 60 jobs have been created through these two initiatives.
- We can see that the measures have had an impact, with hires taking place both with us and with private employers, and we know that many recruitment processes are still ongoing, which is encouraging. But it’s also important that the work doesn’t stop and remains a top priority, says Kristina Sundin Jonsson, Municipal Chief Executive Officer.
Follow-up on the initiatives:
In collaboration with the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) and Northvolt, Skellefteå Municipality sent out surveys to the 1,600 people who had signed up for Meet & Match and the 85 employers who participated. The surveys were sent out in December and closed on January 2025.
We got responses from about 350 individuals, and what we can see in our evaluation is that the vast majority of those who signed up for Meet & Match were laid off during September, October, or November. The employers who responded to the survey, 55 out of 85, reported receiving about 2,000 job applications. A large ongoing effort is underway to review applications and start recruitment and hiring processes.
Of the responding employers, about ten have hired people as a result of Meet & Match, totaling around 50 hires. In addition to these, around 100 recruitment processes are still ongoing. The majority of the completed hires are in industry and manufacturing. Examples of positions filled include various types of engineers, process operators, project managers, industrial electricians, warehouse workers, boat builders, and bus drivers. A final follow-up of Meet & Match will take place later this spring.
Regarding the language and introduction employment programs, ten people have been hired at BEA (track 1) in healthcare and social services, and one person at BAL (track 2) in culture and leisure. These hires are with Skellefteå Municipality. Ongoing interviews and hires are taking place for these positions, so the number will change continuously.