The report states that municipalities and county councils are faced with a significant challenge ahead of the shift into retirement of the large generation of Swedes born in the 1940s and underlined the importance of ensuring that the potential of foreign-born Swedes is optimized.
The problem will be particularly acute in rural areas with a greater proportion of the workforce becoming pensioners.
The generational shift will exacerbate the imbalances that exist between various regions, the report found. Another conclusion outlined in the report is that it will become increasingly important to utilize the resources of all those of working age.
Young people have to be provided with education and training, the participation of women in the labour market has to increase, and primarily residents and citizens of Sweden born overseas have to gain greater access to jobs – a key issue in the struggle to maintaining welfare services and employment levels, the agency concluded.
As the situation varies greatly across the country, the agency recommends that rural municipalities adopt and develop strategies to attract inhabitants of working age, the report concludes.
TT/The Local/pvs
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