Over half of non-European immigrants departing Sweden possess a university degree
In a recent study, it was found that Sweden is underutilizing highly educated non-European immigrants, with many choosing to leave the country due to a mismatch between their qualifications and available employment opportunities.
The study, conducted by Andrea Monti, a doctor in sociological demographics at Mälardalens University, focused on non-European immigrants who left Sweden in 2021. It was revealed that of the 17,000 non-European immigrants aged 25 to 65 who left Sweden that year, 57% held post-upper secondary qualifications, equivalent to a university or college education.
However, the reasons for their departure were not provided in the study. Patrick Joyce, chief economist of the employer's organization Almega, echoed Monti's sentiments, stating that Sweden underutilizes the group of highly educated migrants living in the country.
One of the main reasons for this underutilization is the challenge immigrants face in having their foreign credentials recognized and in accessing local labor markets at roles commensurate with their education. This is particularly prevalent among migrant women, with data showing that in 2019, about 40.7% of highly educated migrant women experienced deskilling, compared to 21.1% among national women.
Other contributing factors include restrictive immigration policies, labor market conditions post-COVID-19, and limited local educational and economic spillover. Sweden has drastically reduced the number of residence permits granted to asylum seekers and their families, which can increase uncertainty and reduce immigrants' chances for stable employment and integration. The pandemic has structurally altered labor markets globally, making finding suitable employment harder, especially for marginalized groups such as immigrants. Expanding higher education institutions may not be sufficient alone to ensure immigrant retention in the labor market or local communities without targeted integration and labor market inclusion policies.
Joyce also mentioned that other factors contributing to why people leave Sweden include the housing situation, particularly in Stockholm, the falling quality of schools, low salaries, and a weak krona. In fact, a record number of foreigners quit Sweden to move to Germany.
It is important to note that the study did not provide information on the number of non-European immigrants who stayed in Sweden in 2021 or specify the nationalities of those who left.
This research highlights the need for Sweden to address the challenges faced by highly educated non-European immigrants in order to retain them and ensure their integration into the labor market and local communities.
The study conducted by Andrea Monti emphasizes the need for Sweden to focus on education-and-self-development, as it was found that non-European immigrants with post-upper secondary qualifications, equivalent to a university or college education, constituted a significant portion of those who left the country in 2021. Meanwhile, general-news outlets have been reporting on the subsequent impact of these departures, with Patrick Joyce, chief economist of Almega, stating that Sweden underutilizes these highly educated migrants and urging the implementation of targeted integration and labor market inclusion policies to improve the situation.
