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Population by Labour market status, September 2023

Employment continued to increase in September

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2023-11-30 8.00

People in employment aged 15 to 74 numbered 5 303 000 in September 2023. This is an increase of 35 000 people compared with September 2022. In the 20 to 64 age range, 244 000 people were unemployed. This equals a share of 4.8 percent expressed as a percentage of the labour force and is unchanged compared with the same period of the previous year.

People in employment

The number of people in employment aged 15 to 74 increased in September 2023 by 35 000 compared with the same period of 2022, amounting to 5 303 000. Fewer women than men were employed. A total of 2 578 000 women and 2 725 000 men were employed.

Number of employed people by month, 15 to 74 years
BAS

In the 20 to 64 age range the employment rate – the number of employed people in relation to the population – was 80.9 percent among women and 81.7 percent among men. Compared with September 2022, the employment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points for women while the employment rate among men decreased by 0.3 percentage points.

The unemployed

The number of unemployed people aged 20 to 64 in September 2023 was 244 000, which is unchanged compared to the same period the previous year. A total of 120 000 women and 124 000 men were unemployed.

The relative unemployment rate - the proportion of unemployed people in relation to the labour force - was 4.9 percent for women and 4.7 percent for men. This equals a reduction in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points among women but an unchanged unemployment rate among men compared with the same period of 2022.

Unemployment is higher among foreign born people than among those born in Sweden. The relative unemployment rate was, among foreign born people, 12.8 percent for women and 10.0 percent for men. This corresponds to a reduction in unemployment among women of 0.9 percentage points, and 0.2 percentage points among men compared with the same period of 2022.

Proportion of unemployed people by month as a percentage, 20 to 64 years

BAS

People outside the labour force

The number of people outside the labour force aged 20 to 64 was 869 000 in September 2023. This equals a share of 14.6 percent expressed as a proportion of the population in the same age group. Compared to the same period of 2022, the number of people outside the labour force increased by 8 000, meanwhile the proportion has decreased by 0.1 percentage points. There were 3 000 more women than men outside the labour force in September.

The labour market status categories that are outside the labour force are student, pensioner, sick and others. There are fewer people outside the labour force in the summer than during other parts of the year. This is mainly because some people who are students during term time work during the summer and are then classified as employed.

Number of people outside the labour force by month, 20 to 64 years

BAS

Definitions and explanations

BAS, Population by Labour market status, presents statistics based on administrative data concerning aspects such as number of people in employment, unemployed people, and people outside the labour force for the registered population aged 15 to 74. The statistics can be used to describe current status, but also the progression over time. It illuminates both the entire population and smaller groups, such as detailed age groups at the municipal level.

The statistics contain estimates of the number of people broken down by labour market status: Employed, unemployed, student, retiree, sick and others. The definition of labour market status is hierarchical, which means that a person can only be assigned one labour market status, and it is determined according to the order of precedence above.

The labour force consists of employed people and the unemployed.

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency

Statistics Sweden

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+46 10 479 50 00
E-mail
bas@scb.se

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Sofia Löfgren

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sofia.lofgren@scb.se

Frida Vingren

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frida.vingren@scb.se