More Swedish jobs going to migrants

An increasing number of jobs in Sweden are going to foreigners as the country’s working-age population continues to shrink, according to the latest government figures.

Data published byArbetsförmedlingen, the Swedish government agency for employment, show that the number of jobs going to people born outside the country grew from11,200in January to16,800in June.

的再保险ason for the increase could be partly accounted for by thedecline in Sweden’s native-born working-age population.Data from the World Bankshow that Sweden’sage-dependency ratio(the proportion of people aged under 15 or over 64, relative to those of working age) has steadily increased in recent years, from 53% in 2010 to 58% in 2014.

The Local websitereports that demand for migrant workers is particularly high in Sweden’sservice sector, including property maintenance and cleaning services. However, the largest group of economic migrants isIT consultants,主要从Indiaandeastern Europe.

的再保险lationship between immigration and native workers’ jobs is often controversial.Amelie Constanthas written on this subject for IZA World of Labor.In her article, Constant argues that: “Whether high- or low-skilled, migrantsrarely substitute directlyfor native workers. Instead, migrants often complement native workers or accept jobs that natives don’t want or can’t do. Theycreate new jobsby increasing production, engaging in self-employment, and easing upward job mobility for native workers. The presence of immigrants increases demand and can spur new businesses to open, creating more jobs for immigrant and native populations.”

Read more on this storyhere.

Related articles:
Do migrants take the jobs of native workers?byAmelie F. Constant
Circular migrationbyKlaus F. Zimmermann
Skill-based immigration, economic integration, and economic performancebyAbdurrahman B. Aydemir

Find more IZA World of Labor articles on migrationhere