Employment in Sweden Has Risen for 12 Consecutive Months: Who Is Finding Work?

Sweden’s employment recovery is showing signs of progress, but the gains are not evenly distributed across the population. Official statistics point to rising employment among women, an increase in the number of foreign-born people in work, and improving signs for young jobseekers. At the same time, unemployment remains elevated, and the growth in temporary employment raises questions about the security of some new jobs.

The latest figures from Statistics Sweden (SCB), published on 16 October 2026, show that 5.292 million people aged 15–74 were employed in September. The seasonally adjusted and smoothed employment rate reached 69.6%, while the corresponding unemployment rate remained at 8.7%. The figures suggest a gradual improvement rather than a complete recovery in the Swedish labour market.

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Statistikmyndigheten SCB

Sweden’s employment recovery: what the latest figures show

The headline trend needs to be understood alongside the wider labour market. More people are working, but the number of unemployed people remains substantial, and the results depend on which statistical measure is used.

According to SCB’s Labour Force Surveys, the employment rate for people aged 15–74 was 69.1% in September, up 0.5 percentage points from a year earlier. After seasonal adjustment and smoothing, it stood at 69.6%. These measures help distinguish the underlying trend from monthly fluctuations, including seasonal changes in hiring.

There is also an important distinction between employment and unemployment. Employment can rise while unemployment remains high if more people enter the labour force and begin looking for work. A growing number of employed people therefore does not automatically mean that everyone seeking a job is finding one.

1. Women are a major driver of employment growth

Women have played a particularly important role in the recent increase in employment.

SCB’s August figures showed that the number of employed women rose by 61,000 compared with August a year earlier, reaching 2.577 million. Total employment increased by 103,000 over the same period. SCB statistician Felicia Holm identified women as the main driver of the increase.

Statistikmyndigheten SCB

This is an encouraging sign for women entering or returning to the labour market. However, the figures measure the number of people employed, not the quality of their jobs, their wages or whether they have secured permanent contracts.

The distinction matters because an increase in employment does not necessarily translate into equal improvements in financial security for every worker.

2. Foreign-born workers are contributing to the increase

People born outside Sweden are another important part of the employment picture, although they continue to face greater barriers in the labour market.

Statistics Sweden’s administrative-based labour market data for July showed that the number of employed foreign-born women increased by 2.3% compared with July a year earlier. Employment among foreign-born men rose by 1.7%. By comparison, the number of employed Swedish-born women and men increased by 0.3% in each group.

Statistikmyndigheten SCB

These figures suggest that foreign-born people accounted for a significant part of the growth in employment in the groups measured. They do not, however, establish that every immigrant group is benefiting equally or identify the industries responsible for the increase.

The broader challenge remains substantial. In July, the unemployment rate among foreign-born people aged 20–65 was 10.5%, compared with 3.1% among people born in Sweden.

Statistikmyndigheten SCB

The contrast reveals an important feature of the recovery: employment can grow relatively quickly among foreign-born workers while their overall risk of unemployment remains much higher.

For people who have recently arrived in Sweden, access to jobs can depend on factors such as Swedish-language proficiency, recognition of qualifications, professional networks and experience in the Swedish labour market. These are relevant practical considerations, although the figures cited above do not quantify the individual effect of each factor.

3. Young jobseekers are seeing some improvement, but insecurity remains

Young people have faced a difficult transition into employment, and the latest data offer mixed signals.

In September, the unemployment rate among people aged 15–24 was 20.8%, with 137,000 young people classified as unemployed. Of these, 84,000 were full-time students. SCB also reported that seasonally adjusted and smoothed data showed a decline in both the number and share of unemployed young people compared with recent months.

Statistikmyndigheten SCB

The student figure requires careful interpretation. Under labour force survey definitions, a student who is looking for work and available to take a job can count as unemployed. The headline youth unemployment rate therefore includes some people who are studying while seeking employment, rather than only young people who have left education and cannot find work.

There is another concern: the type of employment available. In July, the number of temporary employees rose by 92,000 year on year to 898,000, with much of the increase among young people, according to SCB’s Labour Force Survey.

Statistikmyndigheten SCB

Temporary work can provide valuable experience and a route into permanent employment. However, it can also mean less predictable income and uncertainty about future hours. The figures do not establish how many young people subsequently move into permanent jobs.

For younger workers, the real test will therefore be whether the improvement leads to sustained employment, adequate working hours and better long-term prospects.

What the employment figures do—and do not—tell us

The headline that employment has risen for 12 consecutive months should be interpreted in light of the measure being used. SCB publishes both unadjusted figures and seasonally adjusted, smoothed estimates. These can tell different stories because they account for seasonal hiring patterns and short-term fluctuations differently.

The latest September release confirms that the seasonally adjusted and smoothed employment rate increased compared with recent months. However, the release does not, by itself, establish a 12-month uninterrupted rise across every employment measure.

Statistikmyndigheten SCB

The available evidence nevertheless points to three notable developments:

Women: Employment growth was particularly strong among women in the August figures.
Foreign-born people: Employment grew faster among foreign-born groups than among Swedish-born groups in the July administrative statistics.
Young people: Recent indicators show some improvement in youth unemployment, but the unemployment rate remains high and temporary employment has increased.

These findings come from different statistical products and reference periods. They should not be combined as if they were one perfectly comparable monthly dataset.

Our analysis: more jobs are welcome, but the quality of employment matters

Sweden’s labour market is showing signs of improvement, but the recovery remains incomplete. The strongest evidence points to increased employment among women and foreign-born workers, alongside some improvement in recent youth unemployment indicators.

The remaining challenge is to turn these gains into lasting economic security. A job can reduce unemployment without necessarily providing stable hours, a predictable income or a clear career path. The increase in temporary employment makes this distinction particularly relevant for young people entering the workforce.

Policymakers should therefore look beyond the total number of employed people. Employment rates, long-term unemployment, access to permanent contracts and the transition from education into work are also important indicators of labour market health.

For jobseekers, the figures offer cautious encouragement rather than a guarantee of easier recruitment. Opportunities may improve as employment expands, but prospects will still vary by occupation, location, qualifications and individual circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

Has employment in Sweden increased?

Statistics Sweden’s recent releases show an improving underlying employment trend. In September, the seasonally adjusted and smoothed employment rate stood at 69.6%. The exact claim of 12 consecutive months depends on the specific statistical series being examined.

Who is benefiting most from Sweden’s employment growth?

SCB’s August figures identified women as the main driver of the annual increase in employment. Separate July data also showed faster employment growth among foreign-born women and men than among Swedish-born groups.

Is unemployment falling in Sweden?

The picture is mixed. In September, the unadjusted unemployment rate was 8.1%, while the seasonally adjusted and smoothed rate stood at 8.7%. The latter remained unchanged in the latest underlying trend estimate.

Are young people finding jobs more easily?

There are signs of improvement in the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment figures. However, the unemployment rate among people aged 15–24 was still 20.8% in September, and temporary employment has increased among younger workers.

Where can jobseekers find official Swedish employment statistics?

Statistics Sweden publishes employment and unemployment data, while the Swedish Public Employment Service provides statistics on registered jobseekers, vacancies and people who have found work.