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Labour Market Tendency Survey 2021

Major shortage of specialist nurses

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2022-02-22 8.00

The Labour Market Tendency Survey 2021 shows a continued shortage of healthcare workers from many education programmes. The greatest shortages are for newly graduated nurses specialised in anaesthesia, intensive care, surgery, and psychiatric care, as well as district nurses. Shortages of teachers and other types of educators as well as recent graduates from vocational programmes in upper secondary education are also reported.

Major shortage of recent graduates from many programmes in the healthcare sector

The Labour Market Tendency Survey 2021 shows that labour shortages of graduates from different educational fields in the healthcare sector persist. Shortages are particularly high and common among nurses specialised in anaesthesia, intensive and surgical care. Nine of ten employers experience nursing shortages of both experienced and recent graduates in these specialities. Nearly all employers face shortages of experienced nurses specialised in psychiatric care. Eight of ten employers report a shortage of newly graduated district nurses.

Shortages of workers with upper secondary vocational education remain

The shortage of workers with upper secondary vocational education remains high, particularly in the fields of technology and manufacturing. There is also a shortage of trained restaurant workers. Labour Market Tendency Survey 2021 reports employers face shortages of workers from 9 out of the 13 secondary vocational fields of education included in the survey. Shortages are particularly high for workers trained in cooling, heat pump and ventilation technology and automation. 9 out of 10 employers report a shortage of workers trained in cooling, heat pump and ventilation technology.

Shortages of teachers and educators in some fields of education

The supply of teachers and other educators varies depending on field of education. More than 8 out of 10 employers report a shortage of newly graduated subject teachers for grades 7-9 specialised in mathematics and science. Employers also report difficulty recruiting vocational training teachers, primary school teachers specialised in leisure time, special needs, and special education teachers. The supply of high school subject teachers specialised in mathematics, science, and languages, as well as of primary school teachers for pre-school class, years 1-3 and 4-6 is balanced, according to the employers.

Increased need for employment in the healthcare, technology, and manufacturing sectors

Future employment needs are high in the healthcare, technology, and manufacturing sectors. 7 out of 10 employers report that they will need to increase the number of employed nurses specialised in anaesthesia, intensive and surgical care over the next one to three years. Majority of employers also expect to hire employees for the coming year who hold a Master of Science degree in electronic engineering, computer science and automation as well in energy and electrical engineering. There is also a need for workers with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, electronics, and computer technology during the next three years according to 8 out of 10 employers.

Good or balanced supply of workers educated in several social sciences programmes

Employers find that the supply of workers with social science education is good or balanced. Examples of education programmes from which employers report continuing good or balanced supply of new graduates include personnel, behavioural and social sciences, and journalism. Other examples are found in the fields of technology and sciences, where employers experience that the supply is good for newly graduated architects, engineers with master’s degrees in chemistry and biotechnology, and physicists.

Educational programmes in which the largest proportion of employers have reported shortage of recent graduates and applicants with professional experience, respectively
Recently graduatedWith professional experience

Cooling, heat pump and ventilation technology*

Cooling, heat pump and ventilation technology*
Specialist nurses in anaesthesia, intensive and surgical care Specialist nurses in psychiatric care
Restaurant* Automation*
Subject teachers for grades 7-9 in mathematics and science Radiology nurses
Specialist nurses in psychiatric care Veterinary

*Upper secondary education

Educational programmes in which the largest proportion of employers predict that the number of employees will increase
Up to 2024 

Bachelor of Science in Engineering in electricity, electronics, and computer technology

Master of Science in Engineering in electronics, computer technology and automation

Architecture

Master of Science in Engineering in energy and electrical engineering

Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering

Definitions and explanations

The Labour Market Tendency Survey 2021 is a survey that provides information on the current labour market situation and prospects for the coming years for 70 educational programmes, of which 13 are upper secondary level and 57 are in higher education. Every year in the autumn, roughly 10 000 forms are sent to about 7 200 personnel managers at selected workplaces. Questions are asked about the supply of applicants (Good supply/Balance/Shortage), and how they expect the number of employees with the current educational programmes to change in a one-year and in a three-year perspective (Increase/No change/Decrease).

Publication

The results of the Labour Market Tendency Survey are published in the Statistical Database. Time series, including margins of uncertainty, from 2005 to 2021 for all 70 educational programmes are presented.

The results will also be published in the folder “Arbetskraftsbarometern 2021 – Vilka utbildningar ger jobb”, which is mainly addressed to pupils and students who will be choosing their training and educational programmes. The folder presents statistics on each programme and summarises the results of the year, together with statistics on wages and salaries, and other facts about the programmes.

Labour Market Tendency Survey 2021 

Next publishing will be

Labour Market Tendency Survey 2022, 2022-12-13 at 08:00

Statistical Database

More information is available in the Statistical Database

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency

Statistics Sweden

Enquiries

Gulzat Elvung

Telephone
+46 10 479 58 45
E-mail
gulzat.elvung@scb.se

Karolina Eriksson

Telephone
+46 10 479 41 76
E-mail
karolina.eriksson@scb.se