Rosita Andersson finds her calling as an excavator operator

Rosita Andersson, 44, is embarking on a new career path as an excavator operator, a field where more women are encouraged to join. After a period of sick leave, Andersson discovered her aptitude for heavy machinery when she tried operating a friend's wheel loader. The experience was transformative, leading her to decide on a career change mid-profession.

"Digging is great fun; there's so much to handle," Andersson said, reflecting on her newfound passion. "You're sitting in a machine weighing several tons. You can do much more with a machine than one might think." She feels she has "found her thing" and is now undergoing training at Yrkesakademin in Tullinge, near Stockholm.

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Digging is great fun; there's so much to handle. You're sitting in a machine weighing several tons. You can do much more with a machine than one might think.

Andersson is one of three women among 19 students in her program. She believes women bring a valuable cautiousness to operating heavy machinery. "We are not like men. We are more sensitive and have a gentler hand," she explained. "We don't rush through everything." A job offer already awaits her upon completion of her apprenticeship, highlighting the demand for skilled operators.

The training program is supported by Arbetsförmedlingen Stockholm Sydväst, which handles participant selection. Students come from diverse backgrounds, ranging in age from 20 to 60, and include individuals who have been unemployed for varying lengths of time. The need for excavator operators is significant, with the training aiming to fill this demand.

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We are not like men. We are more sensitive and have a gentler hand. We don't rush through everything.