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International graduates in Sweden. The role of high-tech sectors, analytical knowledge and cultural distance

Fassio, Claudio LU and Igna, Ioana LU (2026) In Industry and Innovation
Abstract

This paper analyzes the career paths of international students in Sweden after graduation. By matching individual data on international graduates with information about their employers, we analyse the sectors in which they began their careers in Sweden after graduation between 2003 and 2014. We propose that international graduates find better job opportunities in firms operating in sectors that require a higher level of analytical knowledge and in expanding sectors with a higher demand for skilled workers. Our findings indicate that international graduates are more likely than Swedish graduates to work in high-tech sectors, both in manufacturing and services, as well as in expanding low-knowledge-intensity service sectors. These... (More)

This paper analyzes the career paths of international students in Sweden after graduation. By matching individual data on international graduates with information about their employers, we analyse the sectors in which they began their careers in Sweden after graduation between 2003 and 2014. We propose that international graduates find better job opportunities in firms operating in sectors that require a higher level of analytical knowledge and in expanding sectors with a higher demand for skilled workers. Our findings indicate that international graduates are more likely than Swedish graduates to work in high-tech sectors, both in manufacturing and services, as well as in expanding low-knowledge-intensity service sectors. These findings apply mainly to international graduates from more culturally distant foreign countries.

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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
cultural distance, high-tech, International graduates, knowledge, occupations
in
Industry and Innovation
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:105034839381
ISSN
1366-2716
DOI
10.1080/13662716.2026.2637177
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4f15270b-00bb-4e28-81b3-68daaeb4e549
date added to LUP
2026-04-28 15:10:06
date last changed
2026-04-28 15:10:42
@article{4f15270b-00bb-4e28-81b3-68daaeb4e549,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper analyzes the career paths of international students in Sweden after graduation. By matching individual data on international graduates with information about their employers, we analyse the sectors in which they began their careers in Sweden after graduation between 2003 and 2014. We propose that international graduates find better job opportunities in firms operating in sectors that require a higher level of analytical knowledge and in expanding sectors with a higher demand for skilled workers. Our findings indicate that international graduates are more likely than Swedish graduates to work in high-tech sectors, both in manufacturing and services, as well as in expanding low-knowledge-intensity service sectors. These findings apply mainly to international graduates from more culturally distant foreign countries.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fassio, Claudio and Igna, Ioana}},
  issn         = {{1366-2716}},
  keywords     = {{cultural distance; high-tech; International graduates; knowledge; occupations}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Industry and Innovation}},
  title        = {{International graduates in Sweden. The role of high-tech sectors, analytical knowledge and cultural distance}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2026.2637177}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13662716.2026.2637177}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}