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  • Unemployment remained at an elevated level in 2025

    In 2025, the number of people aged 15–74 in the labour force increased by 52 000 to 5 773 000. The number of employed persons was 5 263 000 and the employment rate was 69.0 percent. The number of unemployed persons increased by 30 000 to 510 000. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 8.8 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared to 2024.

  • Employment continues to increase

    In January 2026, there were 5 194 000 employed people, not seasonally adjusted. This represents an increase of 85 000 compared to January 2025. The number of hours worked per week averaged 128.6 million. Unemployment decreased both in terms of the number and the share of people. The number of unemployed people amounted to 490 000, corresponding to an unemployment rate of 8.6 percent. Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data show an increase in employment and a decrease in unemployment. The unemployment rate stood at 8.7 percent.

  • Employment increased in the fourth quarter of 2025

    In the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of employed people amounted to 5 247 000, not seasonally adjusted, which is an increase of 53 000. The total number of hours worked amounted to an average of 165.7 million per week. The number of unemployed people increased by 47 000 to 485 000. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent, an increase of 0.7 percentage points. Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows an increase in both employment and unemployment. The employment rate was 69.1 percent, and the unemployment rate was 9.0 percent.

  • Increase in labour force participation

    In December 2025, the number of people in the labour force increased with 85 000 and amounted to 5 729 000, not seasonally adjusted. There were 5 252 000 employed people, and the number of hours worked per week averaged 151.3 million. The number of unemployed people was 477 000, corresponding to an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent. Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data show an increase in both the employment rate and the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate amounted to 9.0 percent.

  • More people wanted to change jobs during the high inflation

    When the inflation was high in 2022–2023, more women entered the labour force and full-time employed men wanted to work more hours. Permanent employees also looked for and switched jobs during the high inflation. A new report from Statistics Sweden’s Labour Force Surveys (LFS) shows how the labour supply was affected in terms of labour force participation, desired working hours and employees seeking new employment.