Over the past 15 years, the number of applicants to the country’s meteorology courses has steadily decreased. The cool interest in the profession among today’s young people has begun to be felt by employers who have difficulty recruiting staff.
– Fewer young people know about the profession today. The meteorologist is not as visible as in the past when fewer and fewer people watch flat-screen TV, says Erik Höjgård-Olsen, forecast meteorologist at SMHI.
Fewer and fewer students graduate from meteorology programs in Sweden. In the last decade, the number of applicants to bachelor’s programs has fallen. At Sweden’s Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, SMHI, the shortage is felt.
– Currently, we are fewer meteorologists than we should be. We have to agree to work some overtime and cover for each other, says Erik Höjgård-Olsen.
Lack of meteorologists in the defense
The armed forces are another major employer of the profession that could face problems if the number of meteorologists continues to decline. After Sweden’s entry into NATO and the upgrading of the defense, the need for defense meteorologists increases.
– The need is increasing in the Armed Forces at the same time as we have retirements and natural departures. We see a great need in the future, says defense meteorologist Jonas Lilja.
More extreme weather – greater need
The low interest in the profession risks becoming a bigger problem when the need to predict the weather may become more significant in the future. As extreme weather becomes more common as a result of climate change, the profession of meteorology may become increasingly important for Sweden.
– If the climate of the future consists more often of extreme weather events, the consequences of each weather forecast will play a greater role, says Erik Höjgård-Olsen.