Labour Force Surveys (LFS), August 2025
Labour market remains weak
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2025-09-17 8.00
In August 2025, there were 5 320 000 employed people, not seasonally adjusted. The number of hours worked per week averaged 130.6 million. The number of unemployed people was 486 000, corresponding to an unemployment rate of 8.4 percent. The seasonally adjusted and smoothed employment rate was 69.0 percent. The seasonally adjusted and smoothed unemployment rate stood at 8.7 percent.
- The labour market is still weak in August and the unemployment remains at a high level, says Sandra Medenica, statistician at the Labour Force Surveys at SCB.
Labour force
In August 2025, there were 5 806 000 people aged 15–74 in the labour force, not seasonally adjusted. There were 2 764 000 women in the labour force. The number of men amounted to 3 042 000, up 54 000. The labour force participation rate was 76.1 percent. Among women, the labour force participation rate was 73.6 percent and among men, it was 78.6 percent.
According to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, there were 5 766 000 people in the labour force, corresponding to a labour force participation rate of 75.6 percent.
Employment
The number of employed people aged 15-74 amounted to 5 320 000 in August 2025, not seasonally adjusted. There were 2 517 000 employed women and the number of employed men was 2 803 000. The employment rate stood at 69.7 percent. The employment rate among women was 67.0 percent and among men it was 72.4 percent.
The number of employed people aged 15–74 amounted to 5 266 000, seasonally adjusted and smoothed. This corresponds to an employment rate of 69.0 percent.
Employees
In August 2025, there were 4 805 000 employees, according to non-seasonally adjusted data. 2 373 000 employees were women and 2 432 000 employees were men. The number of permanent employees amounted to 4 117 000. 1 992 000 women were permanent employees and 2 125 000 men were permanent employees. The number of temporary employees amounted to 688 000. 381 000 women were temporary employees and among men the number of temporary employees was 307 000.
There were 4 769 000 employees according to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, of whom 4 132 000 were permanent employees and 637 000 were temporary employees. Compared to recent months, the number of temporary employees increased.
Hours worked
Total hours worked in August 2025 averaged 130.6 million per week, according to non-seasonally adjusted data.
Compared to recent months, seasonally adjusted and smoothed data show a decrease in the number of hours worked. The number of hours worked averaged 154.1 million per week.
Unemployment
In August 2025, 486 000 people aged 15–74 were unemployed, not seasonally adjusted. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 8.4 percent. 247 000 women and 239 000 men were unemployed. The unemployment rate stood at 9.0 percent for women and 7.8 percent for men. The number of people in long-term unemployment (unemployed for at least 27 weeks) amounted to 204 000, an increase of 42 000 people compared to the corresponding month in the previous year. 102 000 women and 102 000 men were in long-term unemployment. The number of unemployed young people aged 15–24 amounted to 143 000 and the youth unemployment rate stood at 19.8 percent.
According to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, there were 500 000 unemployed people aged 15–74, corresponding to an unemployment rate of 8.7 percent. Among young people aged 15–24 the number of unemployed amounted to 166 000. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 23.9 percent.
Unused labour supply
Collectively, unemployed people, underemployed people and latent jobseekers constitute the unused labour supply. In August 2025, the unused labour supply averaged 26.8 million hours per week, representing an increase of 2.5 million hours compared to the corresponding month one year ago. The unused labour supply corresponds to 670 000 full-time jobs with 40-hour working weeks.
Employment rate by sex, people aged 15–74
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| Non-seasonally adjusted data: Total | Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data: Total | Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data: Men | Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data: Women | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201508 | 68.2 | 66.5 | 68.7 | 64.3 |
| 201509 | 66.3 | 66.6 | 68.7 | 64.4 |
| 201510 | 66.4 | 66.6 | 68.8 | 64.5 |
| 201511 | 66.6 | 66.7 | 68.8 | 64.5 |
| 201512 | 65.9 | 66.7 | 68.8 | 64.6 |
| 201601 | 65.4 | 66.7 | 68.8 | 64.7 |
| 201602 | 65.6 | 66.8 | 68.8 | 64.7 |
| 201603 | 66.0 | 66.8 | 68.8 | 64.7 |
| 201604 | 66.5 | 66.8 | 68.8 | 64.7 |
| 201605 | 66.7 | 66.8 | 68.8 | 64.7 |
| 201606 | 68.5 | 66.8 | 68.8 | 64.7 |
| 201607 | 69.0 | 66.8 | 68.8 | 64.7 |
| 201608 | 67.6 | 66.9 | 68.9 | 64.8 |
| 201609 | 66.8 | 66.9 | 68.9 | 64.8 |
| 201610 | 66.8 | 67.0 | 69.0 | 64.9 |
| 201611 | 67.1 | 67.0 | 69.1 | 65.0 |
| 201612 | 66.2 | 67.1 | 69.2 | 65.0 |
| 201701 | 65.9 | 67.2 | 69.3 | 65.1 |
| 201702 | 66.4 | 67.3 | 69.4 | 65.2 |
| 201703 | 67.0 | 67.4 | 69.5 | 65.3 |
| 201704 | 67.0 | 67.5 | 69.6 | 65.3 |
| 201705 | 67.2 | 67.6 | 69.7 | 65.4 |
| 201706 | 69.2 | 67.6 | 69.8 | 65.4 |
| 201707 | 69.7 | 67.7 | 69.9 | 65.4 |
| 201708 | 68.8 | 67.7 | 69.9 | 65.4 |
| 201709 | 67.9 | 67.8 | 70.0 | 65.4 |
| 201710 | 67.7 | 67.8 | 70.1 | 65.5 |
| 201711 | 67.6 | 67.9 | 70.1 | 65.6 |
| 201712 | 67.1 | 67.9 | 70.2 | 65.6 |
| 201801 | 66.5 | 68.0 | 70.2 | 65.7 |
| 201802 | 67.5 | 68.0 | 70.2 | 65.8 |
| 201803 | 67.4 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.8 |
| 201804 | 67.4 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.9 |
| 201805 | 68.2 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.9 |
| 201806 | 69.5 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.9 |
| 201807 | 70.6 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.9 |
| 201808 | 68.7 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.9 |
| 201809 | 68.0 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.9 |
| 201810 | 67.9 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.8 |
| 201811 | 67.9 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.8 |
| 201812 | 67.6 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.8 |
| 201901 | 66.8 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.7 |
| 201902 | 66.9 | 68.1 | 70.3 | 65.7 |
| 201903 | 67.7 | 68.1 | 70.4 | 65.7 |
| 201904 | 67.8 | 68.0 | 70.4 | 65.6 |
| 201905 | 67.1 | 68.0 | 70.4 | 65.6 |
| 201906 | 69.8 | 68.0 | 70.4 | 65.6 |
| 201907 | 70.1 | 68.1 | 70.4 | 65.6 |
| 201908 | 68.7 | 68.1 | 70.4 | 65.6 |
| 201909 | 68.4 | 68.1 | 70.5 | 65.6 |
| 201910 | 68.0 | 68.1 | 70.5 | 65.6 |
| 201911 | 68.1 | 68.1 | 70.5 | 65.6 |
| 201912 | 67.7 | 68.1 | 70.5 | 65.6 |
| 202001 | 66.5 | 68.1 | 70.6 | 65.6 |
| 202002 | 67.2 | 68.1 | 70.6 | 65.6 |
| 202003 | 66.7 | 67.1 | 70.0 | 64.1 |
| 202004 | 65.9 | 66.7 | 69.4 | 63.9 |
| 202005 | 66.1 | 66.8 | 69.5 | 64.0 |
| 202006 | 67.3 | 66.0 | 68.7 | 63.1 |
| 202007 | 68.1 | 66.1 | 68.8 | 63.3 |
| 202008 | 67.6 | 66.3 | 68.9 | 63.5 |
| 202009 | 66.5 | 66.4 | 69.0 | 63.7 |
| 202010 | 66.8 | 66.5 | 69.1 | 63.8 |
| 202011 | 66.8 | 66.6 | 69.2 | 63.9 |
| 202012 | 66.1 | 66.7 | 69.3 | 63.9 |
| 202101 | 64.7 | 66.7 | 69.4 | 64.0 |
| 202102 | 65.9 | 66.8 | 69.5 | 64.0 |
| 202103 | 65.4 | 66.8 | 69.5 | 64.0 |
| 202104 | 66.7 | 66.8 | 69.6 | 64.0 |
| 202105 | 67.1 | 66.9 | 69.7 | 64.1 |
| 202106 | 68.0 | 67.0 | 69.8 | 64.1 |
| 202107 | 70.0 | 67.1 | 69.9 | 64.2 |
| 202108 | 68.0 | 67.3 | 70.0 | 64.4 |
| 202109 | 67.2 | 67.4 | 70.2 | 64.5 |
| 202110 | 67.3 | 67.6 | 70.4 | 64.7 |
| 202111 | 67.7 | 67.8 | 70.6 | 64.8 |
| 202112 | 67.2 | 68.0 | 70.8 | 65.0 |
| 202201 | 66.5 | 68.2 | 71.0 | 65.2 |
| 202202 | 67.7 | 68.3 | 71.2 | 65.4 |
| 202203 | 67.5 | 68.5 | 71.4 | 65.6 |
| 202204 | 68.4 | 68.7 | 71.5 | 65.7 |
| 202205 | 68.6 | 68.8 | 71.6 | 65.9 |
| 202206 | 70.6 | 68.9 | 71.7 | 66.0 |
| 202207 | 71.6 | 69.0 | 71.8 | 66.1 |
| 202208 | 70.3 | 69.1 | 71.8 | 66.2 |
| 202209 | 68.7 | 69.1 | 71.8 | 66.3 |
| 202210 | 68.7 | 69.2 | 71.8 | 66.4 |
| 202211 | 69.5 | 69.3 | 71.9 | 66.6 |
| 202212 | 67.9 | 69.3 | 71.9 | 66.7 |
| 202301 | 68.1 | 69.4 | 71.9 | 66.8 |
| 202302 | 68.2 | 69.4 | 71.9 | 66.9 |
| 202303 | 69.1 | 69.5 | 71.9 | 67.0 |
| 202304 | 68.9 | 69.5 | 71.9 | 67.1 |
| 202305 | 69.8 | 69.5 | 71.9 | 67.1 |
| 202306 | 71.1 | 69.5 | 71.9 | 67.1 |
| 202307 | 72.8 | 69.5 | 71.9 | 67.1 |
| 202308 | 69.8 | 69.5 | 71.8 | 67.1 |
| 202309 | 69.2 | 69.4 | 71.7 | 67.0 |
| 202310 | 68.9 | 69.3 | 71.7 | 67.0 |
| 202311 | 69.2 | 69.3 | 71.5 | 66.9 |
| 202312 | 68.3 | 69.2 | 71.4 | 66.9 |
| 202401 | 67.6 | 69.2 | 71.3 | 67.0 |
| 202402 | 68.1 | 69.1 | 71.2 | 67.0 |
| 202403 | 68.3 | 69.1 | 71.1 | 67.0 |
| 202404 | 68.9 | 69.1 | 71.1 | 67.0 |
| 202405 | 68.3 | 69.0 | 71.0 | 67.0 |
| 202406 | 71.5 | 69.0 | 70.9 | 66.9 |
| 202407 | 71.7 | 68.9 | 70.9 | 66.9 |
| 202408 | 69.6 | 68.9 | 70.9 | 66.8 |
| 202409 | 68.6 | 68.8 | 70.9 | 66.8 |
| 202410 | 68.2 | 68.8 | 70.9 | 66.7 |
| 202411 | 68.3 | 68.8 | 70.9 | 66.6 |
| 202412 | 68.1 | 68.8 | 70.9 | 66.6 |
| 202501 | 67.1 | 68.8 | 71.0 | 66.6 |
| 202502 | 67.7 | 68.8 | 71.1 | 66.5 |
| 202503 | 68.7 | 68.9 | 71.2 | 66.5 |
| 202504 | 69.0 | 68.9 | 71.2 | 66.5 |
| 202505 | 68.6 | 68.9 | 71.3 | 66.5 |
| 202506 | 70.9 | 69.0 | 71.3 | 66.5 |
| 202507 | 71.3 | 69.0 | 71.4 | 66.6 |
| 202508 | 69.7 | 69.0 | 71.4 | 66.6 |
Source
Statistics Sweden, Labour Force Surveys (LFS)
Unemployment rate by sex, people aged 15–74
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| Month | Non-seasonally adjusted data: Total | Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data: Total | Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data: Men | Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data: Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201508 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.3 |
| 201509 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| 201510 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.1 |
| 201511 | 6.4 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| 201512 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| 201601 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| 201602 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 6.8 |
| 201603 | 7.9 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 6.8 |
| 201604 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 6.8 |
| 201605 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 6.7 |
| 201606 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 6.7 |
| 201607 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 6.7 |
| 201608 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 6.7 |
| 201609 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 6.6 |
| 201610 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 6.6 |
| 201611 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 6.6 |
| 201612 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 6.6 |
| 201701 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 6.6 |
| 201702 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 6.5 |
| 201703 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 6.5 |
| 201704 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| 201705 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| 201706 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| 201707 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| 201708 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| 201709 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 6.6 |
| 201710 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| 201711 | 5.9 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.5 |
| 201712 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.4 |
| 201801 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| 201802 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
| 201803 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
| 201804 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| 201805 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| 201806 | 7.3 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| 201807 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
| 201808 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.4 |
| 201809 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.5 |
| 201810 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 |
| 201811 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| 201812 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| 201901 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| 201902 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.9 |
| 201903 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 7.0 |
| 201904 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 7.0 |
| 201905 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 7.1 |
| 201906 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 7.1 |
| 201907 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 7.1 |
| 201908 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 7.2 |
| 201909 | 6.1 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 7.2 |
| 201910 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| 201911 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.3 |
| 201912 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.3 |
| 202001 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.4 |
| 202002 | 8.3 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| 202003 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.7 |
| 202004 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.0 |
| 202005 | 9.2 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.0 |
| 202006 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| 202007 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 |
| 202008 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.2 |
| 202009 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.2 |
| 202010 | 8.0 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| 202011 | 7.8 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| 202012 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| 202101 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| 202102 | 9.7 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.3 |
| 202103 | 10.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.3 |
| 202104 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 9.4 |
| 202105 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 9.4 |
| 202106 | 10.5 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| 202107 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 9.3 |
| 202108 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 9.2 |
| 202109 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 9.0 |
| 202110 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 8.9 |
| 202111 | 7.6 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 8.8 |
| 202112 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 8.7 |
| 202201 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| 202202 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 8.4 |
| 202203 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 7.2 | 8.3 |
| 202204 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 8.1 |
| 202205 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.0 |
| 202206 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 7.9 |
| 202207 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 7.8 |
| 202208 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.7 |
| 202209 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.6 |
| 202210 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.6 |
| 202211 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.5 |
| 202212 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.5 |
| 202301 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| 202302 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| 202303 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| 202304 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.6 |
| 202305 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.7 |
| 202306 | 9.3 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.8 |
| 202307 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| 202308 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 8.0 |
| 202309 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 8.1 |
| 202310 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 8.1 |
| 202311 | 7.1 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 8.2 |
| 202312 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.2 |
| 202401 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.2 |
| 202402 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| 202403 | 9.2 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| 202404 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| 202405 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.4 |
| 202406 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.5 |
| 202407 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.6 |
| 202408 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| 202409 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.8 |
| 202410 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.8 |
| 202411 | 7.4 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| 202412 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| 202501 | 10.4 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| 202502 | 9.4 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8.9 |
| 202503 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8.9 |
| 202504 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.8 |
| 202505 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.8 |
| 202506 | 9.4 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| 202507 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| 202508 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
Source
Statistics Sweden, Labour Force Surveys (LFS)