Activities in the welfare sector carried out by private enterprises increased with 4 percent in current prices compared to 2022. Total activities in the welfare sector increased with SEK 105 billion, in current prices compared to previous year, which is equivalent to an increase of 8 percent.

The highest proportion of activities carried out by private enterprises was within social service where proportion of activities carried out by private enterprises amounted to 20 percent. Within health care 19 percent were carried out by private enterprises. The lowest proportion of activities carried out by private enterprises was within education where the proportion of activities carried out by private enterprises amounted to 14 percent.

In total, the public sector financed 75 percent of the activities carried out by private enterprises. The highest share was within social service, where private enterprises was financed by public funds to a degree of 95 percent. Within education the comparable figure was 74 percent and within health care the level was 61 percent.

The proportion of purchases from private enterprises and foundations varies significantly between counties

On average at the national level, municipalities and regions purchased activities of health care, education and social service from private enterprises and foundations for 13 percent of the total gross cost in 2023. Stockholm County accounted by far for the highest proportion of purchased activities, 22 percent of the total gross cost. This was a slightly lower proportion than the previous year, when the proportion amounted to 24 percent. Norrbotten County accounted for the lowest proportion of purchased activities, at just 5 percent.

59 000 kind-of-activity units in welfare sector

There were around 59 000 kind-of-activities in the business sector in the welfare sector in 2023, which was approximately 1 000 more than the previous year. Half of the kind-of-activities, 29 000, was in health care sector. Within education there were 25 000 kind-of-activities and within social service there were almost 4 600 kind-of-activities.

The proportion of employed women in welfare sector was 77 percent

In 2023 the number of employed in welfare sector was around 1 385 000, an increase of almost 12 000 compared to the previous year. 40 percent of those employed in the welfare sector worked in education, where around 552 000 people were employed. In health care, almost 356 000 were employed, and in social care, almost 478 000 were employed. The number of employed increased slightly year 2023 compared to 2022 in social service and health care. In education the number of employed remained unchanged.

In year 2023 the proportion of employed women in the welfare sector was 77 percent. The highest proportion of women was in health care where 79 percent were women. In social care, the proportion of women was 77 percent, and in education, it was 75 percent.

This data is reported in current prices.