Low wage labour immigration – Sweden

Eskil Wadensjö

SOFI, Stockholm University

Low skilled – high skilled immigration

The first period of labour immigration 1945-1971

• An overrepresentation of high skilled and low skilled migrants

• Why? Transferable and non-transferable skills.

The second period of labour immigration 1994-

• Member of EES/EU

• The expansion of EU 2004, 2007 and 2013

• Mainly the same skill pattern of labour migrants

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The third period of labour immigration

• From December 15, 2008

• A work permit (and a temporary residence permit) if a

job offer

• A minimum monthly income (rather low)

• Wages and other conditions according to collective

agreements or according to the standards in the

industry

• A permanent residence permit if having worked for

four out of five years (now seven years)

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Any problems?

• High minimum wages according to agreements lead to

a low demand for low-skilled workers from outside EU

• Temporary workers in agriculture (difficult conditions

for berry pickers)

• Conditions not always those that have been promised

• Difficult to change employer (and later to change

occupation)

• Paying for a contract (a new route for refugees to

Sweden)

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