Master's thesis; Mapping and Analysis of Fly-In/Fly-Out (FIFO) Labor in Gällivare

Background
Gällivare Municipality is currently in an expansive phase characterized by extensive industrial investments and a significant demand for labor. Parallel to this development, there is an increasing prevalence of fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) workers—individuals who work in Gällivare during the week but are registered residents in other regions or countries. While this labor model helps meet the competence needs of local companies, it also generates complex societal challenges. These include lost tax revenue, limited local integration, increased pressure on the housing market, and potential social risks associated with short-term accommodations. This thesis project is part of Gällivare Narrativ, a collaboration between Gällivare Municipality, Boliden, RISE, and Medskapandebyrån.

Description
The purpose of the study is to establish a knowledge base highlighting the extent of FIFO labor in Gällivare as well as the underlying drivers of the phenomenon. The work will analyze the social, economic, and societal consequences from both short-term and long-term perspectives. The focus lies in understanding how these work patterns shape the individual's relationship to the place and how the municipality can optimize its preparedness for sustainable community development.

Main Tasks

• Quantitative mapping: Analyze the current extent of FIFO workers, their industry affiliation, and future projections linked to planned industrial investments.

• Demographic profiling: Investigate the workers' origins, competence profiles, age, and family situations.

• Driver analysis: Identify economic, social, and lifestyle factors that motivate the choice of the FIFO model for both individuals and companies.

• Societal interaction: Study the group's utilization of local services and culture, and identify barriers to local establishment.

• Housing and consequence analysis: Evaluate various forms of housing and their impact on local residential areas, and analyze economic consequences such as tax revenue loss.

Methodology
A combination of the following methods is proposed:

• Interviews with representatives from companies, workers, and local residents.

• Register-based statistics, to the extent available.

• Observations and field visits at companies, associations, and in social contexts within residential areas.

• Surveys to broaden data collection.

• Policy and environmental analysis, including comparisons with other mining communities globally and reviews of previous investigations and theses.

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: Suitable fields include urban planning, sociology, economics, political science, or another appropriate area.

• Abilities:

  • Strong ability to work independently and analytically with complex societal issues.

  • Capability to handle both quantitative and qualitative methodological choices.

  • 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 is provided by RISE, with on-site support in Gällivare from other project partners.

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

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

Application deadline: February 22.