Many Swedish studies have been conducted within the field and it is a rather worrying situation. In summary, the following conclusions may be mentioned.
- This generation’s retirements will result in approximately 180 000 ownership changes.
- 90 000 Swedish companies are in risk of disappearing.
- 45 000 companies are planning to quit their business after the retirement and 45 000 ownership changes are likely to fail.
- At least 160 000 jobs will not be available if 90 000 companies disappear.
- Just over one in three workers do not know how they would find a buyer for the company in a possible sale.
- Today, Sweden has a far too poorly entrepreneurial climate and weak entrepreneurship.
- Only six out of ten entrepreneurs recommend the younger generation to become entrepreneurs.
More than 99 percent of the Swedish business sector consists of companies that have between 0 - 49 employees and represents 40 percent of the GDP.
Sweden currently has low start-up figures and is also far behind in terms of entrepreneurial activity in international comparisons. In addition, there is a high bankruptcy rate.
Worrying is also that it is complicated, risky and unprofitable to start and run businesses.
The picture is further darkened by the fact that many large companies undergo major structural rationalizations, and moving operations to low wage countries or countries with better tax conditions.
The combination of demographic development, low start-ups and weak entrepreneurial activity as well as rationalization of large firms might affect employment substantionally, which in the near future affect the Swedish welfare system.
Cecilia Helland