Sweco, a group operating in engineering, environmental technology and architecture, is also the world leader in particle separation and size reduction. It employs around 7,400 people, 70 percent men and 30 percent women. In Sweden, 33 percent of the 3,400 employees and 28 percent of managers are women. There are 5 female managers (9 managers total), a certain number of personnel managers and team leaders, and Åsa Bergman, the vice-president. The board is composed of 4 men and 4 women, which is quite unusual in a traditionally male sector. In Norway, where the share of female employees in the private sector has gone from 38 down to 36 percent since 1991, in favor of the public sector, the number of women working for Sweco has doubled in 10 ears, from 14 percent in 2001 up to 28 percent in 2012. In Norway and Sweden, the company has developed similar strategies to achieve this goal. (Ref. 130501)
One observation: the need to attract and retain female graduates. Sweco Sweden’s objective is clear, “equality and diversity.” The company wants diversity in teams and among leadership positions, attracting the best graduates and ensuring their loyalty regardless of their gender or nationality. So the company claims that it offers the same rights and opportunities to all, regardless of their gender, religion or ethnic origin.
However, the priority is to have women in the team and the official goal is 50 percent of female engineers and managers – knowing that only 20 percent of civil engineering training and college graduates with a similar specialty are women.
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