Examining Swedish work permit salary standards: Does the excluded job list carry significance?
In an exclusive interview for Membership+ subscribers, Hanna Geurtsen, a Migration Agency official, discusses the creation and implications of a new list of jobs that could be exempted from a future salary threshold for work permits in Sweden.
From October 2025, Sweden plans to raise the work permit salary threshold to match 100% of the Swedish median salary (approximately 37,100 SEK), an increase from the current 80% threshold. However, to avoid labor market shortages, certain occupations with skills shortages, including cleaners, cooks, and waiters, might be exempt from this salary requirement.
Hanna Geurtsen explains that the list, which includes occupations such as engineers, nurses, and maintenance technicians, among others, has been carefully compiled to balance the risk of exploitation and abuse with the need to allow labor immigration to sectors with shortages. The list is designed to protect workers and prevent abuse, while still facilitating immigration for jobs that are genuinely needed.
The Migration Agency, under Geurtsen's guidance, has been mindful of potential risks associated with lower-paid jobs, such as unpaid or poor working conditions and even human trafficking. The final impact and details of the exemption list are subject to government approval and ongoing review.
The new list consists of a total of 152 jobs that could potentially be exempted from the minimum salary for a Swedish work permit. The list can be found in the article.
The interview with Nordic Editor Richard Orange and Hanna Geurtsen sheds light on the process and reasoning behind the creation of the new job list and its practical impact on work permits. The interview is available in the latest episode of Sweden in Focus Extra.
By exempting these 152 occupations from the salary threshold, Sweden aims to ensure that labor market shortages are addressed while minimizing the risks of exploitation and abuse. The new list is a significant step towards maintaining a balanced labor market and protecting the rights of workers in Sweden.
[1] Sweden to raise work permit salary thresholds but allow exemptions for about 152 occupations. (n.d.). Retrieved from [link to article] [2] Sweden plans to raise work permit salary thresholds but consider exemptions for certain occupations. (n.d.). Retrieved from [link to article] [3] Sweden to implement higher salary threshold for work permits, but consider exemptions for labor market shortages. (n.d.). Retrieved from [link to article]
- The new exemption list for work permits in Sweden, comprising 152 jobs including engineers, nurses, and maintenance technicians, is a response to the upcoming increase in the work permit salary threshold in 2025, aiming to balance the need for labor immigration with the risk of exploitation in the business sector.
- In the realm of finance and politics, the decision to exempt certain sectors from the increased work permit salary threshold is a strategic move by Sweden to maintain a healthy general-news based economy while prioritizing the fair treatment of workers.
