Lost in translation: ex-Northvolt professional can't find work

The Northvolt crisis has ripped through some of its employees’ lives like a hurricane, leaving many of its victims baffled and bewildered. Those most affected are non-EU citizens who hold work visas. They have just three months to find a new job. Norran English met highly-educated professional Andrew Obosi, who's desperate to find work in Skellefteå, but keeps being asked, "Do you speak fluent Swedish"?

Andrew Obosi has his head in his hands. – Honestly, I'm not sure what to do, he says a little wearily.

Foto: Donna Richmond

Engelska2024-10-31 13:59

Paul Connolly

Andrew Obosi has his head in his hands.

– Honestly, I'm not sure what to do, he says a little wearily.

– When we moved here, we did so with the intention of making Skellefteå our home. We sent our three kids to a local Swedish school so that they would learn Swedish and integrate. They now have Swedish friends and are all fluent in Swedish. Sadly, I am not yet.

Andrew is, generally, a hearty, affable Nigerian. He moved to Skellefteå in July 2023 to work at Northvolt, after 12 years working in Qatar, as a health and safety manager. He hadn't heard of Northvolt before they approached him to join their Skellefteå team.

But as an accomplished professional, he's always been in demand. It wasn't the first time he was headhunted, after all he has a degree in accountancy, a management MBA and is currently studying for a master's in safety and risk management.

– I love my life here, says Andrew.

Foto: Donna Richmond

– I wanted the challenge that Northvolt was offering. And I really enjoyed it. It was a brilliant place to work because it was diverse, with people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences.

But then the bad news came that Northvolt Expansion, the section he was working on, was closing down.

– It was a very sad day when we got the news, and nobody could believe it. We really didn’t see it coming.

Now he has a very different challenge. For a man who's always been in demand, professionally, he's having trouble finding another job in Skellefteå.

– I knew this was going to be tough, given my legal status as a permit holder and non-EU or EEA national. At first, recruiters did reach out, but the moment they found out I wasn't an EU citizen, that I was on a work permit, everyone shied away.

Andrew's situation is harder to bear because his family is settled in Skellefteå. They made the decision to commit fully to life in Skellefteå and now this desire to integrate seems to have backfired.

– I love my life here, says Andrew.

– I love this community. My wife, who's a teacher, is studying SFI, and my kids also love it here. We really want to stay. But finding a new job here is impossible. Northvolt was an English-speaking company. But now every employer wants fluent Swedish. Everyone.

– Look! I’m 44. This is the time of my life when I need to work. I don’t want government support. I want to work.

Foto: Donna Richmond

Even at last week's Meet and Match at Sara kulturhus, Andrew found himself banging his head against a linguistic wall.

– Every recruiter wanted fluent Swedish. Even the five municipalities there demanded Swedish. The whole thing seemed like a publicity stunt.

Andrew is learning Swedish, but it takes time. As well as job-hunting, he's studying for his master's.

– My kids are trying to help me. They say, "Okay, Daddy, we’ll teach you this word today; don’t forget it."

But his frustration is obvious.

– Look! I’m 44. This is the time of my life when I need to work. I don’t want government support. I want to work. I’m able, I’m agile. I am strong. I’m at my peak. I am qualified. I have my degrees. I have my MBA.

– I have my international certifications in health and safety. I have nineteen years of experience now, working internationally. I’ve worked with so many people from different backgrounds, so culture-wise, adapting is not a problem for me.

– I want to work!

How can Skellefteå help?

It's time to be flexible, Skellefteå, says Paul Connolly, editor of Norran English.

These are highly-educated, well-qualified people who are already here, at a point when the region needs many such talents. Half the recruitment job is done – they’ve already agreed to live in Skellefteå!

Companies' insistence on immediately fluent Swedish for newcomer new hires is unnecessary. According to the annual EF English Proficiency Index, Sweden ranks sixth in the world on the English-speaking skills of its citizens.

However, we do understand that speaking English can sometimes make local Swedes feel anxious and self-conscious.

But please compare that level of nervousness with the extreme anxiety levels of many ex-Northvolt workers who moved their families halfway across the world for a new life, and who now find themselves without a job and with just three months to find one.

And let's not forget that many of these very bright people have families: Andrew Obosi has three children for example, as well as a teacher wife. We'll need these future generations in Skellefteå - they'll be our teachers, doctors and engineers. Yet we appear to be willing to lose them because we cannot be flexible.

Instead of demanding that newcomers have instant Swedish fluency, Skellefteå companies and organizations should focus on language and cultural fit during the onboarding process, rather than during recruitment.

Hire a corporate language teacher for foreign employees and give them a deadline to become fluent if fluency is essential. Get a work visa specialist to give you a quote and expectations of how long the process takes.

Hire a specialist to give workshops and training to your new AND existing staff for cultural integration.

And what's in it for Skellefteå companies and organizations? Higher profitability and more effective problem-solving, that's what.

Several studies highlight how companies with diverse workforces tend to outperform those without. Research from organizations such as McKinsey & Company and the Boston Consulting Group, including studies in Nordic countries, has shown that diverse teams often exhibit greater innovation and higher financial returns.

For instance, McKinsey’s studies found that companies in the top quartile for ethnic and gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability.

This is attributed to varied perspectives, which lead to better problem-solving and decision-making, directly impacting productivity and growth.

Another report by Deloitte (subtitled, "Celebrating our people not for how well they fit into our culture, but for everything they bring to it") found that diverse teams are 1.8 times more likely to be change-ready and 1.7 times more likely to be innovative leaders in their markets.

Additionally, a study by Harvard Business Review highlighted that diverse organizations make better decisions up to 87% of the time, particularly in complex problem-solving situations, where varied perspectives offer critical insights.

I hasten to add, the nervousness over language and cultural fit is a nationwide issue: It isn't a Skellefteå-only problem.

However, as we've already seen with the green transition, Skellefteå is often ahead of the curve.

What's stopping us being in the vanguard of positive change again?

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