Beredskapslyftet seeks more cash despite dismal success rate

Soon, around a thousand non-EU former Northvolt employees may be forced to leave Sweden. Despite millions of kronor in funding, the Beredskapslyftet project has so far found only one person a new job, reports Dagens Industri.
The only successful placement requires relocation from Skellefteå to Västerås.

 The battery manufacturer Northvolt went bankrupt in March earlier this year. File photo.

The battery manufacturer Northvolt went bankrupt in March earlier this year. File photo.

Foto: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Engelska2025-05-22 09:28

The Beredskapslyftet project was launched following the battery manufacturer Northvolt’s bankruptcy in March this year. Its aim is to help former employees from non-EU countries find new jobs through a digital job centre that matches them with potential employers.

A total of around 1,400 jobseekers need to find new employment before the end of the summer.

According to Beredskapslyftet co-founder Fredrik Hillelson, the limited results so far are due to the long recruitment process, but also to poor Swedish language skills and difficulties finding housing.

– Around 70 percent of the jobseekers live in Skellefteå, while most of the 120 employers we’re in contact with are based elsewhere, he told Di.

Hillelson also said that “one is better than none”. 

The one person who has been found a job will be moving from Skellefteå to Västerås.

In addition to the two million kronor the project has already received in funding, Hillelson is now hoping for another million to continue the project through the summer.