Skills supply in the geodata industry

Skills supply has long been pointed out as a major challenge for the geodata industry in Sweden.

It is difficult to recruit staff with relevant experience, it is difficult to develop the skills of existing staff and the college/university admissions are low, with even zero admissions to several university programs.

Geodata competence is critical for Sweden´s digitalization and for our ability to meet the societal challenges we face, most importantly the transition to a sustainable society.

In Lantmäteriet´s final report for their government assignment on skills supply in the geodata industry (LM2020 / 000738), the message is clear - if nothing is done, the industry risks being depleted.A major reason for this is that the industry is perceived as anonymous.

This is due to the fact that the industry is fragmented, geodata is often a small and scattered part of the organization.

Attracting more people to the industry is a long-term job that requires the industry to speak with one voice and work together to break anonymity and raise the status of the industry.This project will benefit the entire industry, 290 municipalities with all their companies, over 300 companies in the industry, the state authorities where many are represented by the Geodata Council and the regional authorities.

Since geodata competence is a crucial component for the transition to a smart and sustainable society, the societal benefits are great.The employees in the industry must reflect the composition of the citizens of Sweden. It is important that students and employees have all the backgrounds we have in Swedish society.

For this to happen, the level of awareness in society must increase about the educations and professions that exist in the industry. This is what this project is all about, to make the industry more known.

In the communication material produced during the project, diversity, equality and gender equality will be taken into account so that we provide a picture of an industry for all.This project aims to build a digital platform that gathers information about the industry and paths into the industry. The project will also carry out marketing activities to increase awareness of the industry.

The work will be based on a mapping of needs and insights research.

The project will also develop a model for how the work will be conducted long term, after the end of the project period.The long-term purpose of the project is to ensure that the geodata industry is not depleted of competence.

The long-term goal is that the number of admissions to educations increase and that more people with relevant skills apply for vacancies in the industry.

The benefits of this project are great both for the industry and society as a whole, as geodata competence is a crucial for the transition to a smart and sustainable society.