After the peak of the refugee “crisis,” host countries are now focusing on the long-term integration of refugees. This is also the case in Sweden, which took in the largest number of asylum seekers per capita of all European countries in 2015. The recent increase in refugees has renewed attention to the need for effective integration initiatives that foster an inclusive, cohesive, and prosperous society. These debates have predominantly focused on low-skilled refugees. Highly skilled refugees, defined as refugees who have completed a tertiary education or the equivalent in experience, could fill skill shortages in the labour market. These migrants, however, face considerable obstacles in entering the labour market and finding employment commensurate with their qualifications and skills. The chapter examines the actors and institutions involved in various stages of the integration trajectory, and their initiatives to promote labour market access for highly skilled refugees. The findings are based on a review of peer-reviewed literature, reports, Internet sites, and interviews about the labour market integration of (highly skilled) refugees in Sweden. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Karolina Sobczak-Szelc, Marta Pachocka, and Justyna Szalanska.

DOI: 10.4324/9781003228967-12

ISBN: 9781003814573; 9781032116662