Statistics Sweden’s Statistical Report presents the labour market situation of the population. The report shows that there were 5 025 000 employed persons aged 15 to 74 in the fourth quarter of 2017, up 104 000 from the corresponding quarter in 2016. The number of employed women increased by 39 000 to 2 388 000. Among men, 2 637 000 were employed, an increase of 65 000. Foreign born persons in employment increased by 56 000 to 975 000 and Swedish born persons in employment increased by 48 000 to 4 050 000.

The employment rate, that is, the percentage of employed persons in the population, was 67.6 percent, up 0.7 percentage points. Among men, this figure was 69.9 percent, up by 1.0 percentage points, and among women it was 65.4 percent. Among Swedish born persons, the employment rate was 69.4 percent, up by 0.9 percentage points. Among foreign born persons, the employment rate was 61.2 percent.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows continued positive developments in both the number of employed persons and the employment rate compared with adjacent quarters.

Employed persons in the trade industry increased by 21 000 compared with the same quarter in 2016, and amounted to 578 000. In information and communication, the number of employed persons increased by 23 000 to 231 000. In public administration, the number of employed persons increased by 22 000 to 349 000.

Among employed persons, there are persons who want to and are able to work more than they normally do, that is, those who are underemployed. Among employed persons aged 15–74, 236 000 were underemployed. There were 112 000 men and 125 000 women who were underemployed. Underemployed persons accounted for 4.7 percent of employed persons.

The number of employees increased by 111 000 compared with the corresponding quarter in 2016, 4 535 000 in total in the fourth quarter in 2017. The number of men who were employees increased by 64 000 to 2 285 000, and the number of women who were employees amounted to 2 250 000, up by 47 000. The number of permanent employees increased by 88 000 to 3 789 000. Among women, the number of permanent employees increased by 39 000 to 1 845 000 and among men the number increased by 49 000 to 1 944 000. The number of temporary employees was 746 000 in total.

The number of employees in the private sector continued to increase and amounted to 3 036 000, up by 89 000 from the same quarter the previous year. The number of men employed in the private sector increased by 51 000 to 1 833 000 and the number of women employed in the private sector increased by 39 000 to 1 203 000. There were 1 170 000 employees in the municipal sector, up by 35 000.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, 322 000 persons aged 15 to 74 were unemployed. Among unemployed persons, 172 000 were men and 150 000 were women. There were 168 000 foreign born unemployed persons. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points and amounted to 6.0 percent of the labour force. Among women, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent and among men it decreased by 0.6 percentage points to 6.1 percent. Among Swedish born persons, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points and amounted to 3.7 percent. Among foreign born persons, the corresponding figure was 14.7 percent.

According to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate decreased from the previous quarters. There were 355 000 unemployed persons in the quarter and the unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in the age group 15-74.

In the fourth quarter 2017, the total number of hours worked on average was 161.7 hours per week, non-seasonally adjusted. In calendar-adjusted figures, this was an increase of 2.0 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. Men worked, on average, 91.3 million hours and women worked 70.4 million hours per week.

Among young people in the labour force, 14.4 percent, or 84 000 persons, were unemployed; 46 000 of these were full-time students. Among men aged 15–24, 14.9 percent were unemployed and among women aged 15–24, 13.9 percent were unemployed.

The flow statistics show an outflow of 53 000 persons from employed persons aged 15 to 74 between the third and fourth quarter of 2017. The outflow, 76 000 persons, consists of persons who went from being employed to being outside the labour force. At the same time, 23 000 persons in total went from being unemployed to being employed.

The labour market at a glance, fourth quarter 2017

Non-seasonally adjusted values (seasonally adjusted and smoothed values are given in brackets).

Population aged 15–74:

• The employment rate was 67.6 percent (68.0 percent), up by 0.7 percentage points.
• The number of employed persons was 5 025 000 (5 052 000), an increase of 104 000 persons compared with the fourth quarter of 2016.
• The unemployment rate was 6.0 percent (6.6 percent).
• The number of unemployed persons was 322 000 (355 000).
• The economic activity rate was 72.0 percent (72.8 percent), up by 0.6 percentage points.
• The number of people in the labour force was 5 347 000 (5 407 000), an increase of 92 000 persons compared with the fourth quarter of 2016.

Population aged 20–64:

• The employment rate was 81.7 percent (82.0 percent), up by 0.7 percentage points.
• The unemployment rate was 5.6 percent (5.9 percent).

A more detailed report on the labour market situation for the entire population aged 15-74 is available in the Statistical Report on the fourth quarter in 2017.