The theme report in the third quarter of 2017 describes the situation on the labour market for persons with a lower level of education, i.e. persons with no more than compulsory education schooling, aged 20-64.

The structure of the group with a lower level of education

In 2005-2016, the number of persons aged 20-64 with a lower level of education decreased from 841 000 to 586 000. In 2016 the group consisted of 56.9 percent men and 43.1 percent women. The age structure and region of birth changed substantially in 2005-2016. The group with a lower level of education consisted of a larger share of young persons in 2016 compared to 2005. The share of persons with a lower level of education aged 20-34 was 19.8 percent in 2005 and 29.4 percent in 2016. As for region of birth, the group contained a far smaller share of persons born in Sweden and a larger share of persons born outside Europe in 2016 compared to 2005. The share of persons born in Sweden decreased from 78.7 to 58.2 percent and the share of persons born outside Europe increased from 8.9 to 29.4 percent. In this period, the share of persons born in Europe except Sweden changed only slightly.

The labour market situation for persons with a lower level of education 2016

In the group with a lower level of education, the unemployment rate was 16.8 percent, the employment rate was 58.2 percent and the share not in the labour force was 30.0 percent in 2016. Among men the unemployment rate was 14.4 percent, the employment rate was 66.8 percent and the share not in the labour force was 21.9 percent. Among women, the unemployment rate was 21.1 percent, the employment rate was 46.8 percent and the share not in the labour force was 40.7 percent. Thus, the unemployment rate was substantially lower among men, the employment rate was higher and the share not in the work force was lower. Those differences between men and women were considerably larger than those for persons with an upper secondary education or higher.

Among persons born outside Europe with a lower level of education, the attachment to the labour market in 2016 was weaker compared to persons born in Sweden or in the rest of Europe and compared to persons born outside Europe with an upper secondary education or higher. In this group the unemployment rate was 36.9 percent, the employment rate was 42.8 percent and the share not in the labour force was 32.1 percent. In comparison, among persons born outside Europe with an upper secondary education or higher, the unemployment rate was 17.0 percent, the employment rate was 68.4 percent and the share of persons not in the labour force amounted to 17.6 percent.

Similarly, young persons with a lower level of education born in Sweden had a weaker attachment to the labour market in 2016. In the age group 20-24, the unemployment rate was 28.0 percent, the employment rate was 42.9 percent and the share not in the labour force was 40.3 percent. In comparison, persons born in Sweden in the same age group and with at least an upper secondary education had an unemployment rate of 10.9 percent, the employment rate was 66.7 percent and the share not in the labour force was 25.2 percent. Among older persons born in Sweden with a lower level of education, the attachment to the labour market was stronger. For example, among persons aged 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64, the unemployment rate was 5.1 percent or less.

The development on the labour market for persons with a lower level of education

The unemployment rate among persons with a lower level of education increased from 10.0 to 16.8 percent in 2005-2016. In the same period of time, the employment rate decreased from 64.5 to 58.2 percent and the share of persons not in the labour force increased from 28.3 to 30.0 percent. These variables indicate a weaker attachment to the labour market over time in 2005-2016 for persons with a lower level of education.

As was previously mentioned, the structure of the group with a lower level of education has changed considerably in 2005-2016. In 2016, the group consisted of a larger share of young persons and persons born outside Europe. Compared to older persons and persons born in other regions, these groups had a weaker attachment to the labour market. For the group with a lower level of education as a whole, this means that the attachment to the labour market has become weaker. This weakening that has been observed in 2005-2016 is thus partly an effect of changes in the structure of the group with a lower level of education.

In 2005-2016, the unemployment rate among perons with a lower level of education born outside Europe increased from 31.7 to 36.9 percent. The main reason is the fact that the share of persons with a lower level of education born outside Europe who were not in the labour force decreased substantially during this period, and the employment rate in this group decreased slightly. Among persons born in Sweden with a lower level of education aged 20-24, the unemployment rate decreased from 30.5 to 28.0 percent in 2005-2016. However, the employment rate in this group decreased from 46.6 to 42.9 percent in those years. The decrease in the unemployment rate is explained by the fact that the share of young persons born in Sweden who were not in the labour force increased. However, young persons born in Sweden and persons born outside Europe were affected to a larger degree by the financial crisis compared to other groups. Since 2009 the employment rate has increased slightly, both for young persons born in Sweden and for persons born outside Europe with a lower level of education.

A more detailed report is available in the theme report:

The Labour Market for persons with a lower level of education 2005-2016 (Statistical Report AM 110 SM 1704).