Sweden
Data from population registers (which exclude asylum seekers and temporary workers) show that immigration flows were the highest ever in 2015 (134 200, up 5.7% over the previous year) while emigration flows increased by 9% to 55 800. Swedish emigrants accounted for 30% of total emigration. Net emigration of Swedes increased to 4 100 in 2015 (4 000 in 2014), while net immigration of foreigners reached 82 500 (79 700 in 2014). Syrian nationals were the largest group of immigrants (28 000, +29% compared to 2014 flows) followed by returning Swedish nationals (20 400, -2%) and Eritreans (7 600, +28%). Finally, stateless and Polish nationals each accounted for 5 500. Flows of Somalis and Afghans decreased sharply, by 17% and 12% respectively.
In 2015, 109 200 persons were granted residence permits or rights of residence (excluding renewals as well as EU citizens who no longer need to register with the Migration Agency since May 2014). This is roughly the same number as in 2014, 110 600. Family migrants (43 400) accounted for 41% of the total, compared with 38% in 2014. The number of permits granted to refugees and persons otherwise in need of protection rose slightly, from 35 500 in 2014 to 36 600 (34% of the total) in 2015; of these, 1 900 were granted to quota refugees. Permits for employment (16%) rose again, from 15 900 to 17 000, and those for the purpose of study remained stable at 9 400 (or 9% of the total).
According to the Swedish Migration Agency, in 2015 the number of asylum applications more than doubled to around 163 000 (including dependents). This represented more than one in ten applications received in the EU28. The top three origin nations accounted for 72% of total applications; these were Syria (51 300, +68% compared to 2014), Afghanistan (41 600, compared with 2 900 requests in 2014), and Iraq (20 900, compared with 2 700 requests in 2014). More than 20% of the applications were for accompanied minors. According to Eurostat data, around 72% of decisions made at first instance were positive, compared with 51% in the EU28.
A total of 13 300 work permits were granted in 2015, most of which were accorded to migrants arriving from abroad. Berry pickers (3 800 permits) remained the leading occupational group among permits issued in 2015 for the purpose of employment. IT specialists (3 200, up from 2 500 in 2014) and engineering professionals (710) followed. The top three countries of origin were Thailand (4 200, up from 3 000 in 2014), India (3 300, stable compared with 2014 level) and China (740, down from 950 in 2014).
In August 2014, new rules entered into force to tackle abuses of the labour migration system. In July 2015, a national committee on labour migration was appointed to survey the extent of abuse and exploitation of labour migrants in Sweden, and to propose measures to counteract such exploitation.
In 2014, a six-month job search visa was introduced for international graduates from Swedish universities.
In the framework of its 2016 budget, the government has launched an introduction package to speed up the labour market integration of newly arrived immigrants. This initiative aims at accelerating the transition to gainful employment through language courses, training, skills validation and accommodation; increasing the support to municipalities to provide newly arrived children and young people a good education in preschools and schools; and strengthening the reception and integration of refugees all over the country. Since January 2016, increased funds have been made available to help municipalities receiving large numbers of asylum seekers. The government also proposed to increase the flat-rate reimbursement to municipalities for schooling of asylum-seeking minors by 50%.
Legislative changes entered into force in July 2014 with a view to facilitating circular migration between Sweden and third countries, in order to strengthen the positive effects of migration on development.
A new Fast Track initiative began operating in early 2016 to speed up the entry of skilled immigrants into shortage occupations. The sector-specific initiatives begin by mapping, validating and bridging the skills of programme participants in their mother tongue, offering language tuition alongside these activities. Swedish language skills will not be required prior to the commencement of validation and bridging efforts. Fast-track discussions are currently ongoing in 14 sectors covering 20 different professions. Many resources have been devoted to this bridging.
The government has announced its intention to combine the teaching of Swedish for Immigrants with other relevant education, such as upper-secondary vocational education. The provision of Swedish for Immigrants will, in the future, be undertaken within the municipal adult education system, and new modular courses in municipal adult education at the basic level will be developed.
