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Labour Force Surveys

The object of the Labour Force Surveys (LFS) is to describe the labour market, for example unemployment, working hours, and the number of people who are permanent or temporary employees. The Labour Force Surveys are carried out on behalf of the Riksdag and the Government, and form part of Sweden’s official statistics.

The survey is carried out monthly, and about 17 000 persons are contacted for a telephone interview. The survey sample is drawn from the Population Register on a random basis. To identify changes over time in the labour market, each person is interviewed more than once, generally eight times, at three-month intervals.

There is no obligation to participate in the Labour Force Surveys. On the other hand, if more people are interviewed, it makes the description of the labour market more accurate.

The results of the survey are used by the Riksdag, the Government, political parties, newspapers, television, radio, enterprises, labour unions, researchers, students, and the general public.

Instructions

Book a time for an interview

Information in other languages (Statistics Sweden)

Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions about the data collection? Frequently asked questions about the Labour Force Surveys are available on this page:

Frequently asked questions and answers on submitting information to the Labour Force Surveys (LFS)

Publishing of the results

The results of the Labour Force Surveys are published as statistical news on Statistics Sweden’s website every month, often on the third or fourth week of the month, at 8:00. The statistics are also published in the form of:

  • various tables for each month, quarter and year
  • various time series each month and quarter
  • quarterly and yearly publications (Statistical Reports) that describe the Swedish labour market in greater detail

All published Labour Force Survey results are available on the Statistics Sweden website.

To the survey results

View the final statistics

Legal Information

The answers that you submit in the interview are held confidential, and all those who work on the survey are bound by the obligation of professional secrecy. Confidentiality applies under Chapter 24, Section 8 of the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400). Regulations on processing personal data are contained in the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the Official Statistics Act (2001:99), and the Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100). In addition, there are rules in the Act on supplementary provisions to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (2018:218) and in regulations issued in association with the Act. 

You have the right to obtain one copy free of charge, in the form of a register extract, of the personal data processed by Statistics Sweden in its capacity as the controller of personal data. If you submit your request electronically, you also have the right to receive the register extract by electronic means. If you believe that Statistics Sweden has processed your personal data in a way that infringes the EU General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right, under certain circumstances, to have your personal data erased. Remember to state your personal identification number when requesting a register extract.

Contact us

Service for Respondents

Do you have questions about your participation in the survey?

Statistics Sweden’s data collection

Telephone
+46 10 479 62 00
E-mail
aku-dih@scb.se

Statistics Service

Telephone
46 10 479 50 00
Weekdays: 9.00–16.00
Lunch: 12.00–13.00

E-mail
aku@scb.se

Simple URL: https://www.scb.se/lfs-en