The Swedish Migration Agency has reportedly proposed that 81 professions should be exempt from stricter wage requirements for work immigration that are set to take effect in June 2026, according to media reports. The agency submitted a list to the government on Friday containing professions experiencing labor shortages where the lowest wages are below the median wage. The proposed exemptions reportedly include a diverse range of occupations such as primary school teachers, engineers and technicians in chemical engineering, as well as chefs, bartenders, and waiters.
Under current regulations, work immigrants must meet certain wage requirements, but the new stricter requirements scheduled for June would raise this threshold. The Migration Agency's proposal aims to address labor shortages in specific sectors where wages traditionally fall below the national median. The government is now considering the agency's recommendations as it prepares for the implementation of the new immigration rules.