Resources for employers in Sweden
Resources for employers in Sweden
We use “refugees” as a term encompassing forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers and other persons in need of international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
Why hire refugees and stateless people in Sweden?
Sweden is home to a diverse community of refugees, from countries such as Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Eritrea. Many of them are eager to start working in Sweden and to secure their livelihoods through dignified employment. The main responsibility for their integration into the labor market is held by the Public Employment Service (PES) which offers establishment talks, personal plans, language learning, civics trainings, coaching and introduction benefits. In addition, the government has introduced a fast track, targeted towards refugees with existing experience in 14 key industries which are in demand in the Swedish labor market. In this context, the private sector has a key role in welcoming refugees and providing them suitable conditions to thrive in the workplace.
Visit the “For employers” section of the Public Employment Service
Nordic employers have already welcomed many refugees as part of their workforce and have demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. In the Nordics, hiring refugees and other newcomers is seen by employers as a key to addressing labor shortages, especially in rural areas. Another strong reason for hiring is the ambition to make a social impact and creating a workplace that better reflects the diversity of society and the customer base. In fact, a 2023 study by TENT among consumers in Sweden found that 50% are more likely to buy from a company which hires refugees, with this percentage raising to 59% among Gen Z consumers under 25 years old.
IKEA is a globally renowned Swedish home-furnishing retailer with over 400 stores worldwide. Through a global partnership with UNHCR, IKEA has been a leader in the field of refugee employment in the countries where it operates, pioneering refugee employment programs and sharing its learnings with more than 700 businesses through the “Skills for Employment” toolkit. Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, has supported 2,935 asylum seekers and refugees from 2019 to 2023 with 54% finding jobs inside or outside IKEA. Additionally, since 2022, the company has directly hired 332 forcibly displaced people through its Displaced Talent program. Recently, the company has launched a new commitment to increase the employability of an additional 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers by the end of 2027. The company also supports refugee livelihoods as one of the main priorities of its Foundation. Learn more here.
How many refugees and stateless people are there in Sweden?
In mid-2024, there were 223,204 refugees in Sweden, as well as 9,448 asylum-seekers and 18,638 stateless persons. The main countries of origin of refugees include Syria (86,956), Ukraine (41,883), and Afghanistan (21,637). As of mid-2024, there were approximately 18,638 recorded stateless people and people of undetermined nationality in Sweden.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
How many of them are working?
Among asylum seekers, in 2022, 7,499 individuals were granted the right to work. The number decreased to 5,389 in 2023.
Among recognized refugees, a 2022 report by the Nordic Council of Ministers found that 63% of men and 53% of women were in employment 11 years after having received a residence permit.
Among temporary protection holders, according to a 2023 survey by IOM, 56% of those in working age are in employment while the remaining 44% are unemployed but looking for a job. These findings are supported by another survey by the Ukrainian Professional Support Center in January 2024, in which 50% of the respondents were active in the Swedish labour market, while 45% were actively looking for a job. The most common sectors were cleaning, hospitality, medical care, IT, logistics, retail and agriculture.
Read the full report “Ukrainians under temporary protection in Sweden” Survey results 2024
What are the main challenges?
Several factors hinder the access of refugees and stateless people to the labor market, such as: 1) the language barrier in Swedish and English, 2) the general labour market situation with high youth unemployment and lack of opportunities outside major cities, 3) the complicated process for validation of diplomas, 4) the gender inclusion gap due to childcare and household responsibilities, 5) the lack of professional skills and the need for re-qualification, 6) the precariety of available jobs which tend to be temporary, part time, informal, low paid or physically demanding, and 6) host society attitudes and discrimination.
See the Asylum Information Database Country report for Sweden on access to employment for asylum seekers, refugees, and temporary collective protection holders
Did you know?
Many refugees and stateless people come with previous educational and professional qualifications but they may face difficulties when validating them in Sweden. The Swedish Council for Higher Education evaluates foreign qualifications in order to provide support for people looking for work in Sweden, people who wish to continue studying, or for employers who wish to employ someone with foreign qualification. For regulated work that requires certified skills (eg health care, animal care, engineering, legal, and other professions), it is necessary to apply for and get a qualification recognition from the relevant Swedish Agency to work in this profession in Sweden.
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? |
| Asylum-seeker | Individuals who have applied for international protection but still have not received a decision on their application. | Asylum seekers can acquire an AT-UND (“exception from the requirement for a work permit”). |
| Refugees | Individuals who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. | Refugees have the right to work in Sweden. |
| Subsidiary protection | Individuals who do not qualify for a refugee status but who are unable to return to their home country because it would mean they face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. | Subsidiary protection holders have the right to work in Sweden. |
| Temporary collective protection | Residents of Ukraine and their family members who were forced to leave their country due to the current war. | Temporary protection holders have the right to work in Sweden and to be granted a work permit. |
| Stateless person | A stateless person is someone who is not considered as a citizen by any country (whether recognized as such or not) | Stateless individuals may apply for international protection and receive the right to work similar to asylum seekers. |
For more information on the legal framework, see the website of the Swedish Migration Agency.
Bear in mind
- An employer can see that an asylum seeker job candidate has an AT-UND by scanning the QR code on their LMA card.
- Asylum seekers can acquire an AT-UND if they can provide identity documents or other means to establish their identity; if Sweden is responsible for their asylum application; and if there are solid reasons for their application in Sweden. An asylum seeker will not be able to work in Sweden if they have received a refusal of entry decision with immediate effect, including if they fall within a Dublin procedure or have a claim considered manifestly unfounded.
- Asylum seekers who receive a rejection on their asylum claim can remain in the country as “labour market migrants” if they manage to work 4 months before the decision to reject their asylum application becomes final. If their employer is able to offer a 1-year contract or longer, then they must apply for permission to work in Sweden within 2 weeks from the date on which the decision to reject their asylum application became final. A successful applicant must have a valid passport and will receive a temporary permit of at least 1 year and at most 2, which can be renewed. After 4 years on temporary permits, a person who still has a job can then apply for a permanent residence permit. In 2022, 637 asylum seekers were granted work permits after a legally binding deportation order. This number decreased to 495 in 2023.
- For asylum seekers and temporary protection holders, it is necessary to register with the Swedish Tax agency and be assigned a coordination number before starting to work. This can be done by individuals or employers.
How do I connect with refugee and stateless talent?
Employers interested in hiring refugees can get in touch with the Public Employment Service (PES) which organizes the Establishment program for refugees, including a personalized plan for professional development, language training, vocational training, and work placements. As of 2023, a total of 9,785 persons were attending the program. In addition, 5,600 temporary protection holders were registered as jobseekers with PES. Finally, employers can get in touch with local municipalities which continue to play an important role in the labor market integration of refugees in partnership with PES and DUA, especially in rural and remote areas. Find out more in this report (in Swedish).
What can I do to support refugee and stateless employees?
Based on research with Nordic employers, some of the recommendations they give for the successful hiring of refugees include: 1) Addressing language barriers: Supporting employees who are still learning the language, offering language training on the job, and engaging interpreters or mediators (eg colleagues with the same mother tongue); 2) Nurturing a culture of diversity: Training managers and employees in intercultural communication and helping refugees understand the local culture and work ethic; 3) Fostering professional growth: Encouraging refugees with little experience to continually develop their skills, while also encouraging those refugees who are overqualified for their job to seek more advanced roles in the company; 4) Collaborating with intermediary organizations: Engaging with NGOs, staffing companies and governmental agencies which provide integration services and which can assist with administrative procedures or services like healthcare and childcare support.
Subsidies
Employers can benefit from 3 programs for newly arrived individuals in Sweden: 1) Establishment job, which covers part of the salary of employees for 24 months, 2) Introductory job, which funds 80% of the salary costs for 12 months, and 3) New start job, a financial compensation for employer’s costs of the salary.
Employer networks
Companies can join TENT Sweden which offers various support services to the private sector, such as: tailored advice on how to set up successful refugee-hiring programs, best practices and trainings, peer-to-peer learning and opportunities, and communications guidance and PR opportunities to amplify companies’ efforts.
A report by the TENT partnership for refugees on “How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands: Europe (2023)”
2023 Briefing Paper by the World Economic Forum titled “Enabling the Economic Integration of Refugees: Lessons learned on refugee employment and employability from the rapid response to Ukraine” .
Report “Ukrainians and Third-Country Nationals under Temporary Protection — Needs, Intentions and Challenges” 2023 by the IOM