Parental Leave Is Costing Swedish Companies Billions

Sweden is often recognised as a global leader in gender equality. But when it comes to parental leave, new data shows a hidden business risk that technology companies, HR leaders, and executives can no longer afford to ignore.

Published:

Nov 21, 2025

1 min read

Together with LEIA and Unconventional Ventures, we have launched The LEIA Report 2025—a study mapping the realities of parental leave and its impact on the Swedish labour market.

The key findings are striking:

38% of women leave their employer after parental leave
Replacing a single employee costs 6–9 months of salary
81% of parents receive less than one month of reboarding support
61% of HR leaders do not measure the impact of parental leave policies

These gaps create a ripple effect: burnout, lost productivity, stalled career progression, and rising churn—especially for women in tech.

The result?
👉 Over 30 billion SEK lost every year for Swedish employers.

This is not an HR issue.
This is not a “women’s issue.”
This is a competitiveness issue that affects innovation, leadership pipelines, and long-term company performance.

The good news:

The report identifies clear, actionable steps that companies can implement immediately. Structured processes, proactive follow-up, manager training, and health-linked support measurably reduce turnover and strengthen retention—benefiting both employees and organisations.

Sweden has the policies. What we need now is the infrastructure that supports parents, sustains careers, and protects the companies that depend on them.