Despite high unemployment rates, Swedish companies are recruiting Spaniards

While unemployment in Sweden is high, and large groups of migrants are on welfare, Swedish companies are forced to look abroad to find employees – despite the fact that the jobs are simple and do not require any previous work experience.

Both Swedish authorities and companies are trying to attract Spanish citizens to fill more than 1,500 vacancies. Many of the jobs include free or subsidized housing, full-time permanent employment, and require no previous work experience.

According to Sydkusten, this mainly applies to the hotel and restaurant industry, social care, tourism, and public administration. The positions are spread throughout the country, from major cities to rural municipalities.

Examples include hotel chains like Scandic, which offer both work and accommodation near the workplace, while other positions involve project management in municipal operations, store management in tourist areas, and social work with individuals with special needs.

An English or Swedish CV is required to apply, often along with a personal letter. Some employers also request a video interview or technical test.

Photo: Håkan Dahlström from Malmö, Sweden, CC BY 2.0

Imported unemployment

The number of unemployed has increased over the past year, reaching 369,000 people in the third quarter of this year. The relative unemployment rate has risen from 6.8 to seven percent, according to the Swedish Public Employment Service’s third-quarter report for 2025. A closer look at the numbers reveals that unemployment is largely an imported problem.

In addition to factors such as a recession, unemployment is exacerbated by unemployable migrants. Figures presented by Statistics Sweden earlier this year showed that unemployment among foreign-born individuals is three times higher than among native-born individuals. Among foreign-born individuals registered with the Swedish Public Employment Service, 77,700 lack a high school education.

Last year, unemployment among foreign-born individuals was 16.2 percent, while among native-born individuals, the corresponding figure was 5.7 percent.