SE26 project
The Ukraine Project
The Ukraine project in Skellefteå municipality began in the spring of 2022 as a response to the wave of refugees from Ukraine, but quickly developed into a strategic recruitment initiative within healthcare and social services. It proved to be a success both for individuals who had left everything behind and for a city undergoing social transformation with significant recruitment needs.
Early in the spring of 2022, Skellefteå Municipality conducted an inventory of Ukrainian and Russian language skills in the workplace. Based on the existing language skills, a trainee program was created in which people from Ukraine were offered introductory jobs in home care, nursing and care homes, and meal services.
The municipality offered guidance, language training, and support to help participants move on to regular employment. By the summer of 2022, the first people had been hired in healthcare and social services, and a total of just over 100 Ukrainians had participated in the trainee program. Today, over 85 percent of participants have regular jobs.
“It has been a win-win situation for both the individuals and the municipality. The Ukrainians have found a place to belong here in Skellefteå and can earn a living, while the municipality is in dire need of skilled workers. Being able to make a difference in this way has been incredibly stimulating. The feeling is that the entire municipal organization and civil society have done their very best“, says Anna-Klara Granstrand, development strategist at the labor market unit who has worked on the Ukraine project.
During Society Expo, the Ukraine project will be one of the items on the agenda at the conference From Skellefteå to Sweden – solutions for the future, which External link. will be held on May 28–29. Employees from Erikslid's home care services will share their experiences of what it is like to come to Sweden as a refugee, their first turbulent period as language trainees in elderly care, and life in Skellefteå four years after fleeing their home country.
The Ukraine project and the lessons learned from it show how to work with skills supply in new ways. Through tailored contingency employment, the municipality's health and social care services, which are and were in great need of new employees, gained a new recruitment base. At the same time, it made it easier for many Ukrainians to enter the new society and earn a living.
By recognizing and actively utilizing the skills within the refugee population, Ukrainian refugee immigration in Skellefteå became a resource for the local labor market, and Ukrainian refugees quickly became an integral part of the local community.
Locally, the Ukraine project has enabled new residents to find employment, while Skellefteå Municipality and the business community have gained new employees. For the participants, the opportunity to work has provided a route into society.
The project's working methods can be applied in more areas and could inspire other municipalities, both regionally and nationally.
The Ukraine project has produced several tangible results:
• Effective skills provision: the municipality was able to fill key roles with dedicated employees.
• An improved working environment and increased energy levels within working groups, with positive effects experienced by both staff and users.
• Social inclusion and self-sufficiency: Participants gained access to society and the opportunity to support their families.
• The working methods and lessons learned from the Ukraine project can be used in other similar contexts in future.
The project was managed by permanent municipal employees, ensuring long-term stability and integration within the organisation.
Yes. While collaboration between municipalities, businesses, educational institutions and civil society is needed to achieve the best possible outcome, there are also challenges at a higher, national level. For instance, there are insufficient structures in place to integrate new arrivals into the labour market, as evidenced by language barriers, unclear pathways to employment, and difficulties opening bank accounts.
Exchanging experiences with other municipalities and international actors could also be beneficial, as many municipalities have been, or may find themselves, in similar situations.
The Ukraine project is closely linked to the strategic areas of knowledge and expertise that are unique to this project.
The project contributes to the vision by fostering participation and community. Having a job provides an important foundation for establishing a sense of belonging in a place.
Read more: SE26 project
Sidinformation
- Senast uppdaterad:
- 20 January 2026