Immigration from Yugoslavia to Sweden 1966–1971: An Analysis of the Impacts of Firms and State

Abstract In the period 1947–1972, large numbers of migrants arrived in Sweden to perform work, particularly in the manufacturing industry. The largest number of migrants came from Finland. Prior to the 1960s, Yugoslavia had not been a significant origin country for immigrants in Sweden, but immigration from Yugoslavia to Sweden increased in that decade. The question posed in the article is: how did Sweden become interlinked with Yugoslavia as an emigration country? The article focuses on the part played by firms and their interaction with state authorities. Swedish employers developed preferences for Yugoslav workers in the 1960s, because they were viewed as skilled within the engineering industry. They were also viewed as a stable workforce, particularly in relation to Finnish workers. Furthermore, the article analyses how the labour market authority shaped immigration from Yugoslavia; it could guide firms towards the recruitment of workers in Yugoslavia.