The skills shortage in tech has long been significant and now the need is acute. 70,000 IT specialists will be missing already in 2024 and the government urgently needs to implement targeted measures to reduce the shortage both in the short and long term. Structural change, which is driving the digital transformation of society, is also changing the way we work and do business. This will increase the need for skills upgrading in many professions, for example in health and social care. But also to enable innovations in several important development areas, not least the climate transition.
3. strengthen the conditions for transition and skills development. Incentives are needed for both education providers and employers to increase transition and skills development in the labor market. For example, earmarked resources are needed if higher education institutions and universities of applied sciences are to increase access to short and flexible courses that are tailored to the needs of working life for retraining and skills development. Employers also need to be given incentives to invest in their staff's skills with a broader skills deduction.
4. invest in research and strong research environments in digitalization. Funding for research into digitization and digital tools needs to be strengthened and prioritized by the government. Collaboration between research and industry, as well as research and education, should be a requirement when allocating funding to strengthen the industry's long-term skills supply.
5. establish a talent express to Sweden and stop skills expulsions. The Government should introduce an expanded talent visa for in-demand skills and ensure consistent and high capacity to process these applications. The Government should also work to increase Sweden's attractiveness as a knowledge nation and final destination through predictable regulations and proportionate measures in the event of errors.
6. Increase entry to and throughput from tech programs in higher education and universities of applied sciences. For some programs and specializations, the throughput is less than 50 percent. Investments in validation, supplementary training or preparatory training can contribute to more pathways into education and increase throughput.
7. implement a national digital skills upgrade for teachers and principals. Teachers and principals need adequate training and skills development. Review teacher training and include digital competence as a core knowledge area.
8. Ensure that digitalization permeates the knowledge content of the entire school system. Despite changes in curricula and the introduction of programming in schools, digital literacy still plays too small a role in education. Digitalization should be mainstreamed in education and school activities to both empower and engage pupils and students.
9. increase interest in tech and promote digital inclusion. There is still a digital exclusion among people who, for various reasons, do not participate at all or very little in the digital society. It is important that all societal actors take greater responsibility for increasing participation and understanding of digitalization and tech. Targeted efforts are needed to awaken interest in digital tools at an early age among both girls and boys. Efforts are also needed for people of working age and older.