New study: Every fifth labor immigrant is out of work

Published 5 October 2024 at 12.21

Domestic. A fifth of so-called labor immigrants in Sweden have no job and no registered earned income at all, shows a comprehensive new study.

Share the article

TwittraShare

The study is based on data on those registered in the population from the period 2000-2023 and highlights both successes and “significant challenges”.

– The most surprising finding is that such a large proportion of those who came here to work did not have any visible income. We can only speculate on how this group makes a living, since they also do not receive subsidies to any great extent, says Erik Sjödin at the Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University.

The 2008 reform of labor immigration, which is often described as one of the world's most liberal regulations, changed the focus from government examination of the need for labor to employer demand. It led to a marked increase in labor immigrants, but has also brought with it major problems.

– The regulation is designed to meet the need for labor and enable livelihoods. But when such a large proportion of labor immigrants are without income, we have to ask ourselves the question whether the system really works as it is supposed to, says Erik Sjödin in a dispatch.

An important result of the study is that the regulation, which has been reviewed several times since 2008, needs further tightening to ensure that all migrant workers work in accordance with their work permits. Erik Sjödin highlights the need for increased control of the immigrants' work situation.

– It is necessary that we can follow up and ensure that the work permits are not only a formal requirement, but also that those who come here to work really have employment that enables livelihood.