Why work in Sweden?
Innovation and equality are among the 5 top reasons to work in Sweden.
1. Innovation is highly valued
Sweden encourages innovation. A great reason to work in Sweden if you want to contribute to progress, whatever skills you might have. Companies in fields from ICT to energy are at the cutting edge of sustainable development and technological advancement. Swedish companies like IKEA, Ericsson and Spotify have fundamentally changed their fields – and continue to do so.
Year after year, international rankings such as the Global Innovation Index, European Innovation Scoreboard and innovation surveys like the Legatum Prosperity Index rate Sweden as an innovation leader. If you work in Sweden, you could be a part of taking your field to the next level.
2. Globalisation as a driving force
With its small domestic market, export is vital to Sweden. The ambition to stay ahead of global competition makes for a dynamic business environment, where international talent is in high demand. Successful startups such as gaming developers King and Mojang and fintech technology service Klarna are showing the way for others. The global outlook also means that it’s okay to speak English at many Swedish companies (knowing Swedish is a great benefit, though).
3. Want to work in Sweden? Embrace the consensus culture!
Central wage bargaining is one of the cornerstones of the modern Swedish labour market. Trade unions and employers have a long tradition of negotiating with each other, aiming for long-term stability. Collective bargaining based on collaboration and consensus has meant the development of a predominantly peaceful relationship between employers and employees. Fewer conflicts mean more focus on innovation and development.
4. Equality is key
Sweden’s anti-discrimination legislation ensures that everyone has the right to be treated equally regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or functional disabilities.
Read more about gender equality in Sweden.
5. Sustainable business leads the way
Sustainability is a competitive advantage. Many Swedish companies actively promote a sustainable approach to business in their strategies and daily management. This is about much more than the environment. Yes, sustainable business includes efforts to reduce emissions, but also taking measures to safeguard human rights, promoting equal career opportunities and fighting corruption, among others. These are core features in Swedish business – both public and private.
