Smart digital solutions and personal contact manage the move to the new jobs in Boden. At the heart of the work is a local model of well-organized relocation services.
The municipality of Boden has set a target of 5,000 more inhabitants by 2030. The accelerator is the green steel plant Stegra , which expects to have 1,500 employees as early as 2026 and around 2,000 employees by 2030. As Stegra grows and the number of people it employs increases, so do the needs of other industries and public services. The goal for both the municipality and Stegra is that as many people as possible choose to settle and remain in Boden.
Digital platform drives migration
To achieve this, a unique digital solution has been developed. The Move to Boden website systematically guides visitors to job matching, housing, schools, preschools, residential areas, associations and more.
“The website has a significant reach, with 50,000 visitors and seven million impressions in digital channels every month. Around 200-250 people get in touch every month to move to Boden and work”, says Beatrice Isaksson, the municipality’s digital marketer, who has built the web in the municipal organization.
To complement this, there is also an internally created matching robot. It is an automated email service that makes it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises without their own HR departments to find the right staff. The service is free of charge and filters matches in the municipality’s database, based on candidates’ skills and employers’ needs.
Personalized move-in service takes over
The website is complemented by a relocation service that provides personalized guidance to ensure a smooth transition for newcomers. The municipality’s efforts focus on support in the areas of housing, childcare and schooling so that they are quickly integrated into municipal processes, but are also a link into the wider community.
“Of those we see coming now, they are well-educated people from all over the world. About a third are women, more couples and families than singles”, sums up Linnéa Byberg, the move-in host, who has held more than 100 welcome talks so far.
Before the move, a welcome interview is held. This identifies their needs, such as the type of accommodation they are looking for, hobbies, and whether the children will attend a regular Swedish school or the international certified school offered by Boden from the age of six to 19.
Many of the families have joined the family for the first time and have been offered jobs in their field of expertise around the world. An encouraging spirit from Stegra, combined with a good reception, are cited as key reasons.
Local welcome
Once in place, the relocation service organizes, for example, thematic meetings and a well-attended international afterwork.
“It’s a great meeting place where new people meet and new ties are formed”, says Josefina Schmidt, the move-in host.
His colleague Peter Wallin guides you on a bus tour to Rödbergsfortet, the Boden Defense Museum and the Havremagasinet art gallery. He is also the link to the slalom slope, water park, excursion destinations, trotting and hockey, health center, leisure bank, recycling station, shops and associations.
“More and more families who have come for the green industry say that they have come to stay and that it is above all life outside work and school that makes them want to stay. That the whole life works for everyone in the family with good leisure time, fun new things to do and nice people around them. For me, it’s world-class hospitality when we succeed in doing that, both organized and spontaneously in private”, says Peter Wallin.
Film: KOMM/Bodens kommun
