Indians, usually, are seen to prefer Canada, Europe and the US as ideal job destinations. However, it is being observed that they have started leaving Sweden at a record pace! Reports suggest that there was a 171% increase in emigration in the first half of 2024 as the Indians were leaving the Scandinavian country mainly because of lay-offs, spouse employment challenges and the harsh climate!
Robin Sukhia, the Secretary-General and the CEO of the Sweden-India Business Council, has confirmed that 2,837 Indians left Sweden between January and June (2024), marking a historic shift in migration patterns. He said that it was the highest emigration of Indians from the European country since 1998! Sukhia is of the opinion that the shortage of service apartments and general accommodation issues are major issues faced by the Indians. "We do not believe there is a single reason for this change. It is likely due to various factors, including high living costs, a shortage of service apartments and general accommodation issues. A full-year assessment is needed to understand the trend," he told The Local Sweden.
Meanwhile, software engineer Ankur Tyagi has written on social media that the Indians have no other option, but to leave the fifth-largest European country, in spite of its "beautiful landscapes, unique culture and new experiences". Tyagi believes that one of the reasons behind this trend is "professional growth in India"! He wrote on X: "With India's economy booming, highly skilled professionals now have access to competitive salaries and exciting career opportunities, making a return home appealing." He mentioned that "loneliness and lack of close friends", too, played an important role, as a number of Indians find it difficult to form close connections in Sweden due to cultural and language barriers. It may be noted that strong social bonds exist in India.
According to Tyagi, spouses of Indian professionals often struggle to find jobs in Sweden due to their "lack of Swedish language skills". The software engineer wrote on X: "Despite having qualifications and work experience, many spouses struggle to find jobs in Sweden due to a lack of Swedish language skills." He further claimed that many returned to India mainly to support their "aging parents" and to stay with their family members. Tyagi believes that social integration is another important factor for the Indians who often find it difficult to fully integrate into Swedish society. The "harsh Swedish weather" and "high cost of living" have prompted many Indians to leave the country.
Another crucial factor is the policy of the Swedish Government. The Government of Prime Minister Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson in Stockholm has decided to pay foreign-born Swedish citizens to move out of the country in an attempt to reduce net migration. The National News recently reported that "a voluntary exit scheme currently offers 10,000 Swedish Krona (approximately USD 960), plus travel costs, for refugees to leave the country!"
Interestingly, Indians are still one of the largest groups of new immigrants to Sweden in 2024, despite the surge in emigration. They are followed by the Ukrainians. The Local Sweden has reported that a total of 2,461 Indian-born individuals moved to Sweden between January and June 2024, down from 3,681 in the corresponding period previous year!
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Facebook
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Twitter
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Linkedin
Contact: kousdas@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment