Master’s thesis; Labor Market Flows & Competence Supply in Industrial Regions

Master's thesis; Labor Market Flows and Competence Supply in a Society Characterized by Strong Industrial Presence

Background
Local development in Gällivare rests on the mutual interdependence of several sectors: industry, welfare (school, health, and care), and the broader business community. The expansion of the industry generates large volumes of job opportunities but simultaneously creates a competitive situation for labor that affects the stability of welfare services and the attractiveness of the private sector. A critical barrier to mobility across the entire labor market is the current housing shortage in the Malmfälten region. Slow and sluggish housing markets impact recruitment opportunities in all sectors and limit mobility in the labor market as a whole. This thesis project is part of Gällivare Narrativ, a collaboration between Gällivare Municipality, Boliden, RISE, and Medskapandebyrån.

Description
The purpose is to create a deeper understanding of labor market flows in Gällivare and how these affect—and are affected by—different sectors. The focus is on understanding individual drivers during sector changes, structural barriers and enablers, and collective needs to strengthen long-term competence supply within the entire societal system.

Main Tasks

• Flow and driver analysis: Investigate movement patterns between sectors and map the values behind decisions to change industries.

• Analysis of working conditions: Compare how wages, working hours, and conditions affect the attractiveness of different sectors.

• Structural evaluation: Analyze how the housing market, commuting options, and family situations affect recruitment capacity.

• Strategy development: Propose how public and private actors can develop joint models for attractiveness and personnel supply.

Methodology
The work should be carried out using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods:

• Interviews with relevant actors and individuals.

• Analysis of data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) and the Swedish Public Employment Service (AF).

• Review of HR data (to the extent access is granted).

• Document analysis of relevant policies and strategies.

• A supplementary survey to capture drivers and values.

Qualifications

• Education level: You are at the end of a Master’s program. We welcome two applicants who complement each other's profiles.

• Subject areas: Labor science, sociology, HR, public administration, economics, or another relevant field.

• Abilities:

  • Strong ability to conduct cross-sectoral analyses and understand complex interdependencies.

  • Skill in managing and combining data from various sources (e.g., SCB and interviews).

  • Good written proficiency in Swedish and/or English.

Conditions

• Scope: 30 ECTS (proposed).

• Start: Spring or Autumn semester 2026.

• Compensation: Upon completion of the thesis (30 ECTS), a compensation of 10,000 SEK per person is awarded.

• Support: Supervision via RISE and on-site support in Gällivare from project partners.

• Location: Optional, with a requirement for fieldwork in Gällivare for a couple of weeks; travel and accommodation are arranged and paid for.

Welcome with your application!
If you want to know more please contact Jessica.dagman@ri.se

Application deadline: February 22.