Standing from left: Marcus Wetterberg (Engineer, Klarna), Kristina Bjerka (General Secretary, Kodcentrum), Alice Dryden (Project Manager, Kodcentrum), Jonathan Frisk (Engineer, Klarna) Sitting from left: Jódís Gunnlaugsdóttir (Engineer, Klarna), Linnea Johnsson (Engineer, Klarna)
The Swedish tech sector is facing an alarming shortage in talent and a stagnant imbalance between genders. To tackle these challenges, Klarna Engineering is teaming up with Kodcentrum, one of Sweden’s most reputable non-profit organizations in the field of digital creation and programming for kids.The purpose of the partnership is to promote digital inclusion by giving more kids the opportunity to explore the exciting world of engineering through a hands-on coding course at the Klarna headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden.
At Klarna, engineering roles constitute more than a third of our global workforce. Engineers make some of the most significant decisions for the company — and are pivotal in creating, maintaining and developing the Klarna experience. And as a society, we rely on them to accelerate digitalization and innovation.
Unfortunately, today, reports show that 3 out of 4 tech companies in Sweden struggle to find the right talent for technical roles. By next year, the tech sector in Sweden is set to face a shortage of 70,000 people with the right skills to fill vacant positions. On top of that, the proportion of women in the tech sector is still below 30%, where part of the problem seems to be that the stereotype of IT as something nerdy and just for boys is being reproduced.
An opportunity for kids to explore the exciting world of engineering
To tackle these issues, Klarna is teaming up with Kodcentrum to give more girls and those from socio-economically challenged areas the opportunity to explore the exciting world of engineering through a hands-on coding course at the Klarna headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. The course will consist of four weekly sessions focused on basic programming — all led by some of Klarna’s most brilliant engineers.
“Klarna’s partnership with Kodcentrum isn’t just an investment in our work to increase digital competence among kids and young people — it’s also an investment in the future”, says Kristina Bjerka, General Secretary of Kodcentrum. “By learning programming and digital technology today, these young people will be prepared to face the challenges that our rapidly changing world will bring tomorrow. Klarna’s contribution gives Kodcentrum the opportunity to reach even more young people and help them develop a critical ability to understand and use technology in a way that benefits society as a whole.”
Kristina Bjerka, General Secretary of Kodcentrum
We from Klarna are equally proud and excited about this partnership, and look forward to the possibilities it will bring for the years ahead!
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About Klarna
Since 2005 Klarna has been on a mission to revolutionize the retail banking industry. With over 150 million global active users and 2 million transactions per day, Klarna is meeting the changing demands of consumers by saving them time and money while helping them be informed and in control. Over 500,000 global retail partners, including H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macys, IKEA, Expedia Group, and Nike have integrated Klarna’s innovative technology to deliver a seamless shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna has over 6,000 employees and is active in 45 markets. For more information, visit Klarna.com
For additional information, please contact:
Alexander Carlsson
Press@klarna.com
About Kodcentrum
Kodcentrum is a non-profit that introduces children — primarily girls and those from socio-economically challenged areas — to programming and digital creation. The goal is to promote digital inclusion by ensuring that all children have the opportunity and self-confidence to try programming.
Visit Kodcentrum.se to learn more