The jobs that didn’t exist three years ago

Sweden has one of Europe's strongest industrial sectors and a world-class innovation ecosystem. Yet one of its greatest competitive challenges is no longer technology - it's talent. As AI, automation, and digitalisation reshape manufacturing, the question is no longer simply how many people industry needs, but which skills will define the workforce of tomorrow.

Today, six out of ten industrial companies report that finding the right talent has become increasingly difficult. The greatest shortages are in roles such as industrial electricians, toolmakers, and automation technicians, while Swedish industry is expected to recruit more than 230,000 people over the next three years. The education system is struggling to keep pace, reskilling efforts remain fragmented, and international recruitment has become both politically sensitive and strategically essential.

The companies that solve the talent challenge will gain a decisive competitive advantage. Encouragingly, solutions are emerging—from reskilling initiatives and stronger partnerships between academia and industry to new pathways into technical careers. But isolated success stories are not enough. The challenge now is scaling what works.

Who should lead the transformation, industry, government, or academia? Which models can be replicated at scale? And how do we ensure the transition strengthens both competitiveness and inclusion, creating opportunities without leaving parts of the workforce behind?