Årjäng municipality is offering free driver's licenses to students who enroll in the high school's care and nursing program, in an effort to address a severe shortage of applicants. According to SVT Värmland, the program has not had any new student intake for two consecutive years due to insufficient interest.
"We haven't had any intake for the past two years. We want that to change," said principal Helene Lorentzon of Årjäng's high school.
We haven't had any intake for the past two years. We want that to change,
The initiative comes as Sweden faces significant staffing shortages in elderly care. Statistics from SCB project that Värmland alone will need over a thousand new employees in the care sector by 2030. Nationally, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) estimates that elderly care needs to recruit 50,000 new employees by 2030.
Several other schools in Värmland, including those in Hagfors, Torsby, and Karlstad, have already implemented similar driver's license incentives for their care and nursing students. The municipality hopes the offer will attract more applicants for the upcoming autumn term.
It has been a great opportunity. In home care services, it's very important to have a driver's license,
"It has been a great opportunity. In home care services, it's very important to have a driver's license," said Mi Westlund, a student at Tingvallagymnasiet in Karlstad.