1) There is a shortage of 5000 vocational teachers needed by 2020 in Sweden as enrollment in vocational teacher education programs has declined sharply since the 1990s. 2) Vocational teacher education programs previously focused only on academic subjects but now incorporate more vocational competencies and offer more flexible paths to accommodate candidates with work experience. 3) Reforms proposed in 2011 would allow entry to vocational teacher education with only a basic university qualification along with relevant work experience, reducing the time needed to qualify as a teacher.