During 2009 an average of 4 499 000 persons were employed. This is a decrease of 94 000 persons compared to 2008. The number of unemployed persons increased by 104 000 persons and amounted to 408 000, or 8.3 percent of the labour force. The number of persons on long-term unemployment increased by 42 000 persons, amounting to 115 000 persons. The number of hours worked equalled 135.0 million per week.
Fewer full-time employees
In 2009, an average of 4 499 000 persons aged 15-74 were employed. Compared to 2008, this was a decrease of 94 000 persons. The downturn was greatest among men, numbering 63 000 fewer men who were employed. The employment rate, that is, the percentage of employed persons in the population, dropped by 2.1 percentage points, amounting to 64.7 percent.
The number of employed persons mainly decreased in the manufacturing industry. Within the industries for Manufacturing, Mining and quarrying, energy and environment, 59 000 persons or 8.9 percent fewer persons were employed. A large part of this downturn occurred in the sub-group Manufacturing of machinery and transport equipment where 39 000 fewer persons were employed, corresponding to 11.8 percent.
The number of employed persons dropped in several parts of the country. Seen from the number of employed persons, the slump was greatest in Götaland County, which dropped by 25 000 persons and amounted to 751 000.
The number of persons who work 35 hours or more per week, otherwise known as full-time, dropped in 2009 by 93 000 persons and amounted to 3 404 000 full-time persons. Men comprised the largest part of this downturn, or 75 000 fewer men, compared to 19 000 fewer women.
Hours worked fell by 3.8 percent
The number of hours worked in 2009 was an average of 135.0 million per week. This was 5.3 million fewer hours, or 3.8 percent less than in 2008. The number of hours worked per week dropped for both men and women: 3.9 million hours for men and 1.5 million hours for women
During the period, the average sick leave among employed persons dropped by 0.6 million hours, or 10.2 percent and amounted to 5.2 million hours per week. The drop was evenly distributed among the sexes - 0.3 million each for men and women.
More than one in four unemployed persons on long-term unemployment
In 2009 the number of unemployed persons aged 15-74 equalled an average of 408 000 persons, an increase of 104 000 compared to 2008. Consequently, relative unemployment, or the proportion of unemployed persons of the labour force, increased by 2.1 percentage points and amounted to 8.3 percent. The number of full-time students who look for and can take a job increased by 18 000 persons, implying that 99 000 persons or 24.3 percent of unemployed persons were full-time students. Of those aged 15-24, 63 000 were full-time students who looked for and were able to take a job. This corresponds to 40.1 percent of unemployed persons.
Unemployment increased for all aged 15-64, but the increase was the largest for those aged 15-24. Among young men, unemployment increased by 6.6 percentage points and amounted to 26.3 percent. The corresponding figures for women were 2.9 percentage points and 23.7 percent.
The number of those on long-term unemployment, that is, persons with a period of unemployment of 27 consecutive weeks or more, amounted to 115 000 or 28.0 percent of those unemployed. Compared to 2008, this is an increase of 42 000 persons or 58.4 percent. The increase applied to both men and women, but was greatest among men where the number of those on long-term unemployment rose by 27 000, or 70.6 percent.
Unemployment increased in many parts of the country. Unemployment was highest in Örebro and Gävleborg County at 10.6 and 10.1 percent respectively. It was also in Örebro County that the increase was the greatest, or 4.6 percentage points.
Persons not in the labour force
In 2009, 2 048 000 persons aged 15-74 were not in the labour force. This is an increase of 66 000 or 3.3 percent compared to the previous year. The increase was relatively evenly distributed among the sexes - 31 000 more men and 36 000 more women were outside of the labour force. More women than men were outside of the labour force - 1 113 000 women compared to 935 000 men. The population increased by 76 000 persons during 2009.