Since 2017, the number of people with low or no education has increased from 9,700 to 15,700, an increase of 61 percent. The group also includes illiterates without education. Since no authority has a comprehensive survey, it is not known exactly how many illiterates are. The only authority for statistics is the Employment Service.

- We keep track of those who are registered with us. Then there may be people who are not enrolled with us and we have no control over them, says Emil Johansson, Head of Unit at the Employment Service.

Migration Board: "We cannot pass the information on"

The Migration Board for statistics on the asylum seekers' age, gender and geographical location, which is handed over to the county administrative board. They also ask asylum seekers about reading and writing skills, but that information is not passed on to other authorities.

- Two years ago, we made a legal assessment, where we investigated what information we need to submit to the county administrative board in accordance with the regulation that governs us. And for some reasons we cannot disclose certain information. And if the regulation is to be amended, it is on the politicians' table and not ours, says Jaak Meri, acting regional head of the Stockholm Migration Board.

County Administrative Board in Stockholm - critical to a lack of mapping

The County Administrative Board in Stockholm wants to see clearer mapping of illiterate and asylum seekers' level of education. It is now requested that information on the level of education of new arrivals be compiled from day one when the persons apply for asylum in Sweden.

Sam Yildirim works as development leader at the County Administrative Board in Stockholm and works with education and labor market issues.

- We have a job market that screams for competence, but we do not know how many nurses or doctors we have at an asylum residence. We also do not know how many can read and write. That's the first thing we should know, he says.

Minister of Labor: "We are looking forward to receiving new arrivals"

The government is currently preparing a comprehensive investigation into the refugee reception. According to Ylva Johansson, the efforts for illiteracy will be reviewed.

- I also see that need. We have just had a large reception investigation that is being prepared by the Government Offices now and I see that this issue may be relevant in that preparation, says Labor Minister Ylva Johnasson (S).

- We still have a problem that we do not meet each person sufficiently individually based on the conditions one has. And of course a huge difference with a person may be illiterate and compared to a person who has a college education with them and they should meet more differently in the establishment, says Ylva Johansson (S).