Living Conditions Survey (ULF/SILC):

Threats and violence at work have more than doubled since the 1980s

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2018-05-31 9.30

Since the 1980s, the proportion of gainfully employed persons who have been subjected to threats or violence at work has increased from 2 to 5 percent. Threats and violence at work affect women to a greater extent than men.

Results from the 2016–2017 Living Conditions Surveys (ULF/SILC) show that among gainfully employed persons aged 16–64, 5 percent have at some time during the past 12 months been subjected to threats or violence at work. This corresponds to about 220 000 people.

Being subjected to threats and violence at work has increased since the 1980s and the increase has been greater among women than among men. In 1982–1983, 2 percent of gainfully employed women and men had been subjected to threats or violence at work. In 2016–2017, this proportion had increased to 4 percent among men and 6 percent among women.

The proportion of those who were subjected to threats or violence at work at some time during the past 12 months, by sex. 1982–1983 and 2016–2017

Being subjected to threats and violence at work is more common in certain sectors. For example, 12 percent of those who work in healthcare and nursing have been subjected to threats or violence at work, as well as 9 percent of those who work in the transport industry, 7 percent of those in public administration, and 6 percent of those in education.

The proportion of those who were subjected to threats or violence at work at some time during the past 12 months, by economic activity. 2016–2017

Classifying healthcare and nursing personnel by subgroup shows that mainly those who work in residential healthcare and nursing are affected; in this group, about 20 percent have been subjected to threats or violence at work at some time during the past 12 months. Among those who work in healthcare and medical services and open social activities, the corresponding figure was 8 percent.

Definitions and explanations

Subjected to threats or violence at work

Persons who have answered "yes" to any of the following questions and answered the question about where the event took place, with "at one's workplace":
"During the last 12 months, have you been subjected to …
… violence that led to injuries that forced you to seek medical care or dental care?
… violence that did not require medical care or dental care?
… threats of violence or other threats that were so serious that you were frightened?"

Gainfully employed persons

People who have work as their main activity. Based on the following question: "The following questions deal with your main activity. Do you work, are you unemployed, studying, retired or something else?"

Economic sector

Economic sector is classified in accordance with the Swedish Standard Industrial Classification (SNI 2007). For more information on SNI, see the MIS 2007:2 document on the Statistics Sweden website (www.scb.se).

Next publishing will be

2018-10-16 at 09:30.

Statistical Database

More information is available in the Statistical Database

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