International House Gothenburg — Soft-Landing Support for Incoming Global Talent

International House Gothenburg (IHG) is a free, publicly funded welcome and integration service for international professionals and their families relocating to Gothenburg and West Sweden. Established in 2021 as a tri-institutional collaboration between Business Region Göteborg, Västra Götaland Region and the City of Gothenburg, it forms the centrepiece of the region's talent attraction and retention infrastructure.

What it does: IHG offers drop-in sessions (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), individual appointments and digital advisory across five service areas: (1) career guidance — CV and cover letter reviews, interview preparation and LinkedIn coaching; (2) Swedish system orientation — healthcare, schools, SFI language classes and municipality registration; (3) job fairs and networking events connecting internationals with local employers; (4) the International Partner Programme, which provides dedicated career support for the partners of international hires — a structural barrier to long-term retention that many competing cities neglect; (5) cultural and community events fostering social integration. All services are free of charge.

Results: The Gothenburg region receives approximately 10,000 foreign professionals each year who join companies and universities (Business Region Göteborg, 2023/24 Facts & Figures). The region hosts around 2,300 foreign-owned companies employing 108,000 people — roughly one-fifth of its labour force. Gothenburg ranked #1 in the independent Talent City Index Sweden 2024 (Future Place Leadership), ahead of Stockholm, for attractiveness among qualified workers aged 20–45, the second consecutive year in that position.

Why it's a good practice: IHG delivers a comprehensive, publicly funded welcome infrastructure that addresses not only the needs of the international professional but also their family — particularly through the International Partner Programme — in a genuine tri-institutional partnership that distributes costs, responsibilities and reach across the city, the region and the economic development agency.

Read the full analysis: https://www.investingothenburg.com/business-services/talent-services/international-house-gothenburg