On the rooftops of Södermalm in central Stockholm, the wind whistles past chimney stacks as hammers rhythmically strike metal sheets. Fredrik Nyström, human resources manager at Karlaplans Plåtslageri, surveys the sea of sloped roofs that define the city’s historic skyline. These distinctive sheet metal roofs are a hallmark of Swedish urban architecture, especially on older buildings in neighborhoods like Södermalm. Yet behind this iconic look lies a growing crisis: there aren’t enough skilled sheet metal workers, known locally as plåtslagare, to keep up with demand. According to industry forecasts, Sweden will need around 2,000 new sheet metal workers over the next three years. But only about 1,000 are expected to complete training during that same period. “We could hire ten people today,” says Nyström. “This shortage is widespread and has been going on for a long time. The fewer workers we have, the bigger the problem gets each year.” His company, Karlaplans Plåtslageri, is struggling to fulfill all its assignments due to a lack of staff. This labor gap affects not just construction timelines but also the preservation of Stockholm’s architectural heritage.
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