Sweden Needs 64,000 Immigrants Annually to Avoid Labor Shortages

Sweden requires 64,000 immigrants annually so that its economic performance would not suffer from labor shortages, local media reported Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — If the annual influx of new labor force was not ensured, employers would begin to have trouble filling positions, The Local outlet reported, citing the interview of the director of the country's employment agency to the Swedish Television broadcaster.

"Sweden’s birth rate is simply too low. The home-born population is reducing. To continue having the possibility of growing further, labour is needed, and therefore an increased population," Johan Bissman, an official from the employment agency, said in a commentary to The Local.

Bissman added that as early as in 2017, private companies might start losing business, whereas public sector would be forced to provide lower quality service.

According to the outlet, the agency envisaged other solutions of the situation, such as raising the age of retirement and ensuring that more students graduate secondary school with a diploma, but the influx of migrants would still be required.

In September, the Swedish government proposed to gradually increase the country's refugee quota from 2,000 to 5,000.