Skellefteå Municipality's Planning Manager Lars Hedqvist believes in a so-called high scenario due to the large industrial investments that are being made right now.
- No one can say for sure about the future, but we have lived with this development for a few years and see no dark clouds in our sky, he states.
The analysis has been ordered because municipal representatives have found it difficult to make others believe the forecasts that the municipality itself has produced.
- Then it is better for outsiders to do the analysis, he says.
Old forecasts show minus
According to the new analysis, there is a demand for 14,000 employees.
There will also be 89,000 inhabitants in the city by 2030. This is in contrast to the authorities' projections, which are based on historical grounds and therefore continue to state that Skellefteå's population will decrease.
- That is why we have ongoing discussions with, among others, the Swedish Transport Administration and try to influence the government so that they see the same reality as us, says Lars Hedqvist.
- The conclusion is that we within the municipality plan based on a high scenario, which means that we continuously reconsider general plans, buy more land and strengthen the infrastructure.
Politicians propose new population target
On Monday, the politicians in the municipal board also decided on a new population target.
According to the proposal, the target should be 90,000 inhabitants by 2030 and 100,000 by 2040. The population target is currently 80,000. The issue will now be raised in the council.
The moderates presented their own proposal, which was supported by the alliance parties, which sets the population target at 120,000 inhabitants by 2050.