Roofer crisis threatens Swedish construction

Sweden needs around 2,000 new roofers over the next three years. But only around 1,000 are being trained during the same period. An already tight labour market looks set to worsen, especially in Stockholm where the shortage has reached crisis point, reports Mitt i.

“There are jobs here for several hundred more roofers,” says Fredrik Nyström, HR manager at Karlaplans Plåtslageri.

“We could hire ten people today without a problem. It looks like this everywhere and has for a long time. More people keep retiring so the problem just gets bigger every year,” he continues.

Projects at risk

The company already has five or six major projects in the pipeline where they’re likely to win the tenders. A strong position for most firms.

But in this case it could lead to major problems.

“If we do, we’ll have enormous problems. We don’t have enough people,” Nyström tells Mitt i.

The shortage is so severe that construction projects are being delayed and in some cases stopped completely. The industry and political opposition are calling for a new vocational programme focused on sheet metal work at vocational colleges.

The political leadership remains cautious, however, pointing out that several industries are grappling with acute skills shortages. Nyström understands that student numbers must justify a programme, but also wants the industry to improve its appeal.

He gets backing from one of his employees, Emil Jarl, who explains why he chose the trade.

“The best part is when you see the roofs you’ve done and know they’ll be there for a long time. When I walk past Karlberg Palace, which we’ve done, I point and say: I made that chimney. It consists of 96 pieces.”