Sweden's elderly care sector confronts staff shortage, government plan and party reforms

Sweden’s elderly‑care system is grappling with a deepening staff shortage. Minister for Elderly Care Anna Tenje tasked the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) with drafting a national competence‑supply plan for elderly care, to be presented by 10 December 2027. The plan will address how to attract new workers, retain those who have left, and develop current staff skills.

A commentary on a worker named “Lisa” illustrates how rigid schedules and a lack of workplace adaptations push capable employees out of the sector, warning that “the question is not whether we can afford accommodations, but whether elderly care can afford to keep losing engaged staff.”

The Christian Democrats (KD) responded with concrete proposals: free footwear for care staff, bonuses for young people choosing care education, hiring doctors under new legislation, and tighter monitoring of staffing and nutrition. These suggestions aim to translate broad calls for better schedules and leadership into actionable reforms.

Together, the ministerial mandate and party proposals signal a coordinated effort to halt the staffing decline that threatens care quality for Sweden’s ageing population.