Employees wrapping up their shifts at Northvolt Ett. The significant layoffs pose a real threat of skilled labor leaving Skellefteå.
The announcement of the layoffs has raised concerns that skilled workers may leave Sweden, taking their valuable expertise with them.
With an estimated 1,700 Northvolt employees from outside the EU, those affected face strict regulations regarding job hunts and work permits. They must secure a new job that pays at least 28,480 kronor per month within three months, or their work permit will expire.
The situation is dire, with many EU citizens also at risk of needing new jobs.
The full impact of the lay-offs remains uncertain, but given the scale—1,600 employees across Sweden, with 1,000 in Skellefteå—most job categories at the battery factory could be affected. This will likely have a significant impact on many subcontractors and suppliers in the area.
Local authorities, the government and other agencies are now discussing how they should "mobilize" to retain affected workers. Industry experts believe that many companies in the region could potentially employ these skilled individuals. Initiatives, such as job fairs, are planned to connect job seekers with local employers.
But which companies in the region are actively seeking employees with these skills?
We've asked several industry experts about this situation.
Markus Gustafsson, co-founder of the job portal Minddig, believes that this is a crucial moment for northern Sweden.
– These 1,000 people are talented individuals at the right age, highly qualified and motivated, and have chosen to relocate here, he says.
– They have proven themselves and often possess skills that could transform our entire country.
Gustafsson emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating that those who are being laid off will quickly be targeted by employers in other parts of the world.
– I estimate that we have less than two months now, he says.
– We have a moral obligation to offer them a future in the north, seeing as we've attracted them here. It's also a matter of common sense, because we want to see growth in Norrland.
A tough economic situation and significant cutbacks. There has been a sombre atmosphere at Northvolt area recently.
Markus Gustafsson, co-founder of the job portal Minddig, describes this as a "moment of truth" for northern Sweden.
Many of those who may be laid off do not speak fluent Swedish. This can be a challenge in some cases. And when it comes to government services and state- or municipally-owned companies, difficulties may also arise due to citizenship requirements, as certain services are classified as security-sensitive.
However, Gustafsson believes that the language issue is not a major obstacle.
– It's more about the employer's attitude. Anyway, in many companies, English is perfectly acceptable as the working language.
He highlights Boliden and Stegra (formerly H2 Green Steel) as particularly interesting companies that could benefit from the expertise of former Northvolt employees.
Desirée Ödén, a business developer at Skellefteå municipality, agrees and points out that there are needs in many industries throughout Västerbotten and Norrbotten.
– We plan to organize matching events between job seekers and companies in the future, she says.
– Everyone is welcome to attend; not just those who worked at Northvolt.
Desirée Ödén, a business developer for Skellefteå municipality, emphasizes that various stakeholders now need to "gather forces".
Nils Eklund, press officer at Stegra, says that the company is closely monitoring the developments at Northvolt and has dedicated staff working on this issue.
– Of course, there's a possibility that we could offer jobs to those who previously worked at Northvolt, he says.
– However, until we know the final outcome of the lay-off notices, it's difficult for us to determine our specific role.
Klas Nilsson, communications manager at Boliden, also notes that Northvolt's announcement has not yet resulted in any significant redundancies.
He emphasizes that Boliden's primary focus is on rebuilding operations at Rönnskär after last year's major fire.
– At the moment, we're not the source of new job opportunities, he says.
– But within our mining operations, we have ongoing recruitment needs in various categories. We're maintaining an open dialogue with Northvolt to discuss the situation and explore potential future collaborations.
Who's hiring?
Here's a list of employers in various industries with operations in northern Sweden that may be interested in hiring former Northvolt employees.
Mining industry
Boliden
LKAB
Viscaria
Mandalay Resources
Kaunis Iron
Manufacturing and processing industries
Stegra
SSAB
Scania
Volvo
Komatsu
Ålö
Martinsons
Alimak
BAE
Smurfit Westrock
SCA
Polarbröd
ABB
Ursviken Technology
Comment: All manufacturing industries recruit based on demand from their end customers. This means that the list of companies hiring includes both those that are currently downsizing and those that are experiencing significant growth
Public sector entities and state-owned or municipally-owned enterprises
SVK
Vattenfall
Skellefteå Kraft
Luleå energi
Umeå energi
Trafikverket
Alla tekniska verk
Region Västerbotten
Skellefteå kommun
Comment: Citizenship issues may arise for certain organizations, as some are classified as security-sensitive.
Consultants
Afry
Altio
Sweco
Knightec
Jernbro
Prevas
Sogeti
Tromb
Tyréns
Comment: Consultants are often dependent on whether the client accepts international qualifications, which is usually more of a problem with public clients.
Construction, public infrastructure, contracting, logistics
Bilfinger
Brokk
NCC
Peab
Skanska
BDX
Licab
Shorelink
Jama Mining Machines
Comment: The construction sector is facing difficulties due to the economy and raw material costs, but remains open to hiring for projects.
Staffing and recruitment
Adecco
Clockwork
Lernia
Wikan Personal
Konsultia
Manpower
Footnote: Please note that these lists are just a selection of different companies within the respective industries. There are likely more companies and organisations not covered here.
Source: Minddig/Markus Gustafsson, Business Administration Office (Näringslivskontoret) at Skellefteå municipality.