Policy
Policy reports in Swedish
Fler robotar, fler jobb? Hur automatisering kan stärka svensk tillverkningsindustri
Title: More robots, more jobs? How automation can strengthen Swedish manufacturing
Njekwa Ryberg, P. (2026). Fler robotar, fler jobb? Hur automatisering kan stärka svensk tillverkningsindustri. Skandinaviska Policyinstitutet.
Translation of summary:
Automation in Swedish manufacturing is not primarily a threat to employment; rather, under the right conditions, it can contribute to both higher productivity and more jobs. The report shows that manufacturing firms that invest in automation, for instance, through industrial robots, tend to become more productive and grow faster than firms that do not automate.
The analysis is based on Swedish registry data for the period 2001–2022 and reveals that the effects of automation vary across regions. The largest impacts on employment are found in urban and rural regions with a strong industrial base outside of the major metropolitan areas. An increase in the growth rate of the automation level by one standard deviation (4.5 percentage points) corresponds to approximately 13,250 new jobs in the manufacturing sector across urban and densely populated rural municipalities over a two-year period.
However, the net effect on total employment is substantially smaller, around 4,800 jobs in densely populated rural municipalities, as the workforce is reallocated from firms that do not automate to those that do. These new jobs are generally characterized by higher wages, higher educational requirements, and fewer routine tasks.
The overall conclusion is that an increase in automation can lead to more jobs, though the outcome depends on local conditions. For the productivity gains from automation to translate into sustained employment, there is a need for access to the right technical skills, effective knowledge networks, and the widespread adoption of advanced technology among small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms.
Kompetensförsörjning för innovation och entreprenörskap på landsbygden
Title: Skills Supply for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas
Bjerke, L., Johansson, S., Hellerstedt, K., Njekwa Ryberg, P., Björkum, K., & Hedman, L. (2026). Kompetensförsörjning för innovation och entreprenörskap på landsbygden. Campus Västervik.
Translation of summary:
The project shows that the greatest challenges arise at the intersection of the demands imposed by macro-level trends, the structures of local labor markets, and firms’ internal capacity to identify and address their skill needs. Automation and digitalization are creating new roles and skill profiles, but the recruitment base in rural areas is limited and skills mismatches are substantial. Firms report significant difficulties in recruiting for technical, managerial, and business development positions. At the same time, unclear educational pathways, insufficient coordination among support organizations, and time constraints within firms mean that many skill needs remain unaddressed.
Regelverkens betydelse för ekonomisk tillväxt
Title: The importance of regulatory frameworks for economic growth
Njekwa Ryberg, P. & Pettersson, L. (2025). Regelverkens betydelse för ekonomiskt tillväxt. Jönköping International Business School.
Translation of summary:
Businesses face a wide range of regulations and requirements that entail administrative costs, thereby affecting their competitiveness and capacity for innovation. Efforts to simplify regulations can enable companies to focus on their core business activities instead. This has significant implications for the conditions necessary to generate more jobs and foster economic growth. Consequently, the ambition and work involved in reducing the regulatory burden through simplification are of vital importance to both the Swedish and European economies.
This research report was commissioned by the Implementation Council (Implementeringsrådet). Its purpose is to support operational analysis regarding the potential impact of regulatory implementation on economic growth and competitiveness. Based on growth accounting principles, the report provides a methodological framework applicable both when analyzing new regulations (introducing additional requirements) and when considering simplification measures.
The report was developed and structured in consultation with Fredrik Hansen (Implementation Council) and Tomas Lööv (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth/Council for Regulatory Simplification). This material was produced because, while competitiveness is a key factor in regulatory simplification efforts, there is a lack of empirical methods capable of capturing this crucial aspect in a transparent manner.