Small changes in the labour market in September

- There were small changes in the labour market in September compared with a year ago. However, according to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, we see that employment and hours worked are increasing. Furthermore, unemployment among young people is decreasing, says Sandra Medenica, statistician at the Labour Force Surveys at Statistics Sweden.

Labour force

In September 2026, there were 5 758 000 people aged 15–74 in the labour force, not seasonally adjusted. There were 2 771 000 women in the labour force and the number of men amounted to 2 987 000. The labour force participation rate was 75.2 percent. Among women, the labour force participation rate was 73.4 percent and among men, it was 77.0 percent.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data show an increase in both the number and the share of people in the labour force, compared to recent months. There were 5 830 000 people in the labour force, corresponding to a labour force participation rate of 76.2 percent.

Employment

The number of employed people aged 15-74 amounted to 5 292 000 in September 2026, not seasonally adjusted. There were 2 532 000 employed women and 2 760 000 were employed men. The employment rate stood at 69.1 percent. The employment rate among women was 67.1 percent and among men it was 71.1 percent.

According to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, 5 324 000 people aged 15–74 were employed and the employment rate was 69.6 percent, representing an increase in both the number and the share of employed people, compared to recent months.

Employees

In September 2026, there were 4 781 000 employees, according to non-seasonally adjusted data. 2 365 000 employees were women and 2 416 000 employees were men. The number of permanent employees amounted to 4 076 000. 1 972 000 women were permanent employees and 2 103 000 were men. The number of temporary employees amounted to 705 000. 393 000 women were temporary employees and among men, the number of temporary employees was 313 000.

The number of employees increased compared to recent months and amounted to 4 835 000 according to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data. Of these, 4 133 000 were permanent employees and 701 000 were temporary employees. Compared to recent months, both the number of permanent employees and temporary employees increased.

Hours worked

Total hours worked in September 2026 averaged 175.4 million per week, according to non-seasonally adjusted data.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data show an increase in the number of hours worked compared to recent months. The number of hours worked averaged 156.4 million per week.

Unemployment

In September 2026, 466 000 people aged 15–74 were unemployed, not seasonally adjusted. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. There were 239 000 unemployed women and 227 000 men. The unemployment rate stood at 8.6 percent for women and at 7.6 percent for men. The number of people in long-term unemployment (unemployed for at least 27 weeks) amounted to 173 000. Of these, 74 000 women were in long-term unemployment and 99 000 were men. The number of unemployed young people aged 15–24 amounted to 137 000. The youth unemployment rate stood at 20.8 percent. Among unemployed young people, 84 000 were full-time students.

According to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, there were 507 000 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 168 000 and the unemployment rate stood at 23.2 percent. Compared to recent months, this represents a decrease in both the number and the share of unemployed young people.

Unused labour supply

Collectively, unemployed people, underemployed people and latent jobseekers constitute the unused labour supply. In September 2026, the unused labour supply averaged 23.4 million hours per week. The unused labour supply corresponds to 585 000 full-time jobs with 40-hour working weeks.