Across Sweden, farm owners are starting to prepare for the summer: machines need servicing, fields need to be readied, and staff need to be in place. But this year, many are saying the same thing: “We can’t find people.”
It is no longer a question of choosing the right person, but of finding anyone who is willing and able to come at all.
Why has it become so difficult?
1. Fewer people are applying for seasonal jobs.
Interest among Swedish job seekers has decreased. Many prefer permanent jobs, and young people often choose something other than heavy outdoor work. At the same time, the number of foreign seasonal workers has dropped after the pandemic and due to changes in regulations.
2. Tough competition between farms.
Everyone needs workers at the same time. The most experienced pickers choose farms they already know, while new employers have to work harder to be chosen. Small differences in housing, communication, or onboarding can determine who gets workers and who ends up without.
3. The job requires the right expectations.
The work is demanding: long days, changing weather, and a fast pace. Many applicants only realize once they arrive how physically and mentally tough it is. Without the right preparation, it’s easy for people to decline or drop out early.
A story from Skåne
A farm owner in Skåne told us that last year they had to turn down several orders, not because the fields weren’t ready, but simply because they didn’t have enough people. Those who arrived in the first week didn’t cope with the pace and quit. The next group never showed up. In the end, they managed to gather a smaller but stable team, and that team stayed for the entire season.
He realized that the challenge is not only about finding hitta people, but about finding those who truly want to be there.
It’s not just about recruitment, it’s about relationships
When you find the right people who enjoy the work and return year after year, you avoid having to start over each season.
You don’t just get workers, you build a team that understands your way of working, knows your farm, and delivers results.
We at TM Connect helps Swedish farms find seasonal workers who fit both the job and the people behind it.
People who understand what the work requires and who want to come back the following year.
Because when the right people find the right place, the entire season becomes easier, safer, and much more enjoyable.
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