For Pajala’s barely 6,000 inhabitants, where a third live in the central town, there is only one outdoor venue. It is usually empty, as it is difficult to get hold of security guards.
– People ask every week if we should have a nightclub and then I have to say no, unfortunately, we can’t get hold of any security guards, says hotel owner Mikael Nilsson.
In the past there were security guards in Pajala and organized nightclub nights were more common than today. A similar development is seen in several other sparsely populated municipalities in Norrland that TV4 Nyheterna has been in contact with.
Before the pandemic, there were 7969 security guard appointments in Sweden, but during the pandemic many jobs disappeared. Today, there are only 6,393 security guards left according to the Police, despite increased demand.
To organize a nightclub evening in Pajala, hired guards from larger municipalities in Norrbotten, up to 30 miles away, are currently required. It requires both planning and is costly because travel compensation, allowances and hotel rooms are added. In addition, there must be free guards available.
– This Christmas we only dare to be open once and that will be the homecoming party on Christmas Day. Then we have got hold of guards and we know that a lot of people will come so that the cost adds up, says Mikael Nilsson.
Expensive to train
The security guard training is currently four weeks long and does not entitle students to study funds. Nor is the education given remotely. The nearest place of study from Pajala is 50 kilometers away. Larger security companies usually pay for the training for their employees, an opportunity that is lacking in sparsely populated areas.
For a Pajalabo who wants to go through the training on his own, the costs drag on. If you count loss of income, travel, hotel stays for four weeks and equipment, the cost is upwards of SEK 100,000.
Minister’s response
The industry organization BYA, the Occupational and Work Environment Board of the Security Industry, believes that the training should be able to be completed in whole or in part remotely. Something that Mikael Nilsson in Pajala also requests. The Minister of Justice does not want to make any promises about that.
– We must take these impressions with us and see what we can do to make it easier to recruit security guards in sparsely populated areas to the desired extent, says Gunnar Strömmer (M).
The hotel owner in Pajala sees a bleak future for entertainment in small municipalities.
– I think that the entertainment evenings will be even fewer, concludes Mikael Nilsson.