SE26 Talks – Skills Supply: Where education, the workplace and society converge

At SE26 Talks – Skills Supply at Camus Skellefteå, representatives from the business community, academia, the public sector, and civil society gathered to discuss one of northern Sweden’s most important issues for the future. A common theme throughout the day was the realization that the skills supply is about more than just recruitment – it’s about attractive locations, lifelong learning, and collaboration.

Northern Sweden is undergoing rapid industrial and societal transformation. To meet the needs of the future, new approaches are needed to attract, develop, and retain talent.

Several speakers highlighted the importance of creating attractive and inclusive communities where people want to live, work, and grow. Elisabeth Sinclair from the Norrbotnia Railway Group described how accessibility and larger labor markets strengthen both competitiveness and the opportunities to live and work in the region.

The need for new pathways to skills was a recurring theme throughout the program. Mirjam Bellgran from Skellefteå Kraft spoke about the challenges facing the energy sector and how collaboration with educational institutions and new ways of raising the profile of professions can help spark interest in the jobs of the future.

Diversity, gender equality, and international expertise were also highlighted as key prerequisites for innovation and development. In an increasingly international Skellefteå, the ability to understand and leverage different perspectives is becoming a key competitive advantage.

A recurring theme throughout the day was collaboration between academia and industry. Representatives from organizations including the Sammes Foundation, Skellefteå Universities Alliance, RISE, and Luleå University of Technology described how education, research, and the workforce need to develop together to meet future skills needs.

The day also featured examples from organizations already working on new solutions – ranging from their own educational initiatives and recruitment efforts to the development of future learning, cybersecurity, and leadership.

Regardless of perspective, the discussions reached the same conclusion: the skills of the future are not built by a single actor alone. They are created through collaboration between people, organizations, and different sectors – and by developing places where people want to live, work, and grow.