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  4. Competence Arena
  5. Voices about the county's skills needs
  6. “Lack of skills is common to all of us”

“Lack of skills is common to all of us”

Without the right skills, the tourism industry risks missing out on business opportunities. Through Kompetensarena Norrbotten, Swedish Lapland wants to make the skills needs of companies visible, help them develop and thereby strengthen Norrbotten's attractiveness.


Annika Fredriksson, CEO of Swedish Lapland. Photo: Mats Engfors.

Swedish Lapland Visitors Board works to represent, develop and support the tourism industry in northern Sweden. The tourism industry consists of many industries with companies in everything from transport to hotels and food. All of which have a great need for expertise, says Annika Fredriksson, CEO of Swedish Lapland.

“Our companies see great opportunities for development, but the supply of skills is an obstacle. If they don't get hold of the right skills, they risk missing out on business opportunities,” says Annika Fredriksson.

Within the hospitality industry, there are many smaller companies that lack their own resources to work on skills issues. Swedish Lapland wants to make the needs of companies visible to other actors, so that the obstacles that exist can be eliminated.

– The supply of skills is a serious issue that requires collaboration. A lack of skills is common to all of us. A functioning tourism industry can strengthen Norrbotten's attractiveness and contribute to immigration and skills in several industries – a place you have visited has a higher probability of becoming a place you want to move to, live and work in, says Annika.

Survey maps skills needs

During the autumn, employers and entrepreneurs in Norrbotten will be able to answer a survey that maps skills development needs and future recruitment and training needs. The answers will form the basis for concrete measures within skills supply.  

– It is important that the survey is answered so that public actors responsible for skills provision can sharpen their work and receive the right basis for decisions on prioritizing training and initiatives, says Annika.

Text: Stina Engman, Brightnest

About the survey

The survey is digital and will be conducted in the fall of 2025, starting in October.

Here you can find more information about the survey.

Kompetensarena Norrbotten is a project that aims to manage the county's increasing skills needs as a result of the extensive industrial establishment in Norrbotten.

The project is run by Region Norrbotten in collaboration with the county's municipalities and business companies, Akademi Norr and the Lapland Municipal Association. It is funded by the European Social Fund, ESF+.