The public sector provides most of the financing within education, health care and social services. This also applies to the portion that is carried out in privately run enterprises. Private enterprises within education are financed by public funds to a degree of 67 percent. Within health care the comparable figure is 58 percent, while within social services the level is 86 percent.
On the other hand, all activities carried out with the public sector are not financed with tax revenue. A portion of the activities carried out are also financed by collected fees from households and enterprises.
Large regional differences within privately run education, health care and social services
In recent years it has become more common that the public sector purchases services within education, health care and social services from private enterprises. However, large regional differences exist. Municipalities and county councils in Stockholm County purchase activities for 21 percent of operational expenditures compared with 4 percent for the counties of Norrbotten, Dalarna and Kalmar. On average and for the country as a whole, municipalities and county councils purchased activities for 12 percent of operational expenditures within education, health care and social services in 2010.
Returns for private enterprises continue to be good
Similar to the year before, returns on total equity were 15 percent for private enterprises within education, health care and social services for 2010. This figure can be compared with 8 percent for all private enterprises in the country. Even liquidity and solidity are on good levels for these enterprises and are over the average compared with all private enterprises.
Sharp increase in number of employees
Employment within health care, education and social services increased sharply. In 2010 there were 1.2 million employees, an increase of 30 000 compared to the previous year. The greatest increase in employment occurred in the private sector. 17 000 more employees were within the private sector compared to the previous year.
Differences in levels of education
Within education the municipalities have a greater portion of employees with post-secondary education than the private enterprises, 70 percent compared with 60 percent. Within health care though, the portion with post-secondary education is as high within the county councils as within the private enterprises, 68 percent. Within social services the municipalities have 25 percent with post-secondary education, while the private enterprises have a higher portion, 29 percent.