The battery company is trying to hire 100 people per month in Skellefteå, something that has gone well so far, but concerns are growing that the goal will soon be difficult to reach.
– It is a huge challenge. There are three important sources for creating sufficient competence; continue training in the universities, further develop and retrain operators, quality engineers etc. from industry and recruit internationally, says Carlsson.
He continues that since last summer, processing times at the Migration Agency have become much longer:
– It has made it happen for us. We have actually lost some staff because of this.
Carlsson is asked during Agenda if he wants to see the unemployed retrained to be able to take a job at Northvolt, and if there are even any left to take off in Skellefteå.
– It’s tough in Skellefteå. There is a catchment area, but it is clear that we want people from all over Sweden to move to Norrland and Västerbotten, says Carlsson.
The question is put to Labor Market Minister Johan Pehrson (L) what the government is doing to help with Norrland’s labor needs.
– You have to make sure to focus on the university of applied sciences and municipal adult education. We are in the process of changing and strengthening the possibilities of creating national admissions to important central educations, says the minister.
Should the unemployed be forced to move up to jobs in the north?
– We have strengthened the transition support so that people have the opportunity to take these jobs. It is not the case that you should be able to receive compensation without moving to a job that is available. In Norrland there is security and opportunities and we have quite a lot of support for people to be able to apply for the jobs, says Pehrson.