Sweden: Women benefit from  recognition of foreign skills

A Swedish study revealed that attempts to recognize foreign qualifications are significantly boosting integration into Swedish society and providing benefits to women in the process.

In the paper Integration in the Labour Market, Skills Supply and the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, published by Sweden’s Council for Higher Education (UHR), it is demonstrated that recognition statements have important long-term implications for immigrants.

It was shown that regardless of school level, women had a higher likelihood than males of joining the labor force and having their talents matched if they had a declaration of recognition.

Credential evaluator Rwaa Ishak of UHR described the disparity for women as “particularly significant.”

The purpose of the UHR report was to evaluate the extent to which recognition statements facilitated the assimilation of foreign workers and immigrants into the nation’s labor market.

When I initially moved to Sweden, I could never have imagined working at a job like the one I do now. By accepting my offer to interpret my diploma, I’m giving Sweden access to a workforce that is properly educated. According to an interviewee whose master’s degree from a European nation was accepted by the system, “I think there’s a lot to be gained.”

Three educational levels are covered by statements: upper-secondary, post-secondary vocational, and higher education.

“The recognition statement is primarily used by employers at the start of the hiring process, and it has the power to determine whether an applicant is invited to a job interview or not,” Ishak stated.

The research was conducted in response to Sweden’s recent decision to limit work permits to immigrants “who earn a salary of at least 80% of the Swedish median salary.”

Additionally, according to the research, “available competence… in the shape of people with education that was not paid for by Swedish society” immediately helps Sweden’s whole society.

Conversely, recipients of the recognition statement believe they have acquired a “certain value” as a result of receiving it.

It is crucial for them to get assurance from Sweden that the education they have devoted years of time and, in many cases, money to is valued and beneficial to Swedish society. It was made clear that this was also actively promoting social integration across the nation.

It did, however, point out that better skill matching would “increase the benefits for society through, for example, higher levels of participation in the labor market and improved welfare services”; it went on to say that this was especially significant for professions with shortages, such as engineers, doctors, and educators.

Sweden can maintain its competitiveness and guarantee sustainable economic growth in the future by making investments in education, research, and diversity as well as by encouraging lifelong learning, according to the report.