Unemployment Rate in Sweden decreased to 8 percent in July from 9.40 percent in June of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Sweden Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The unemployment rate in Sweden increased significantly from March 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). It was at its highest in June 2020, when it reached 9.3 percent, and was around nine percent until May 2021, when it started to decrease. It then started to increase again from early 2023, reaching 8.5 percent in September 2024. This was one of the highest in Europe.

Sweden - Unemployment rate was 8.90% in March of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Unemployment rate - last updated from the EUROSTAT on September of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Unemployment rate reached a record high of 9.30% in September of 2020 and a record low of 6.00% in March of 2008.

The unemployment rate in Sweden was 8.53 percent in 2024. Between 1991 and 2024, the unemployment rate rose by 5.29 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Sweden (LRHUTTTTSEM156S) from Jan 1983 to Jun 2025 about Sweden, harmonized, persons, unemployment, and rate.

The unemployment rate in Sweden decreased steadily from 2010 after the financial crisis the previous years. However, the employment rate increased since 2018, reaching nearly nine percent in 2021 after the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. In 2023, it stood at 7.7 percent. The unemployment rate among women was slightly higher than among men in 2022. Unemployment benefits As unemployed in Sweden, there is a possibility to receive unemployment benefits (A-kassa). To receive these benefits, the unemployed person needs to be registered at the Swedish Public Employment Service, needs to be ready to take on a job at any time, and needs to have had a job for at least six months during the last year. In 2022, nearly 228,000 individuals in Sweden received these benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) started spreading in Sweden in February 2020, the country's health authorities chose a milder way than most other European countries, allowing most stores, including cafés and restaurants to remain open. Ultimately, the government's handling of the pandemic was criticized as the country registered an unusually high number of deaths during the first weeks of the pandemic. Moreover, the country's economy was hit hard, with economic decline and layoffs.

Youth Unemployment Rate in Sweden increased to 24.60 percent in July from 23.90 percent in June of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Sweden Youth Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about Sweden Unemployment Rate

• Sweden Unemployment Rate dropped to 7.22% in Apr 2023, from the previously reported figure of 7.25% in Mar 2023.
• Sweden Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1983 to Apr 2023, with an average rate of 7.08%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 10.50% in Jun 1997 and a record low of 1.30% in Jul 1989.
• The data is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Sweden Population reached 10.38 million people in Dec 2020.

The unemployment rate in Sweden stands at 8 percent according to the latest data from . That reading shows a decrease from the level of 9.4 percent in the previous month and an increase from the level of 7.7 percent in the same month of the previous year. The unemployment rate data in Sweden...

Long Term Unemployment Rate in Sweden increased to 1.90 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 1.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Sweden Long Term Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Adjusted Unemployment Rate in Sweden (DISCONTINUED) (SWEURAQS) from Q1 2007 to Q2 2013 about Sweden, adjusted, unemployment, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Sweden (SLUEM1524ZSSWE) from 1991 to 2024 about Sweden, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

In Sweden, the unemployment rate was higher among men than among women over the past decade. However, in 2019, female unemployment rate was higher for the first time since 2008. In 2023, the unemployment rate among men was 7.5 percent, compared to eight for women. The general unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in 2023. High youth unemployment rateThe young population, from 15 to 19 years, had the highest rate of unemployment in 2022. In this age group, the unemployment rate was 35 percent. The second highest unemployment rate was in the age group from 20 to 24 years, reaching 14 percent. As of August 2023, Sweden had the sixth highest youth unemployment rate in the European Union.Unemployment benefits To be eligible to receive unemployment benefits in Sweden, the unemployed needs to be registered at the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), needs to be ready to take a job at any time, and needs to have had a job for at least six months during the last year. Nearly 228,000 individuals in Sweden received unemployment benefits (A-kassa) in 2022.

Sweden: Unemployment rate forecast: The latest value from 2030 is 7.45 percent, a decline from 7.55 percent in 2029. In comparison, the world average is 6.28 percent, based on data from 100 countries. Historically, the average for Sweden from 1980 to 2030 is 6.86 percent. The minimum value, 2.03 percent, was reached in 1989 while the maximum of 11.15 percent was recorded in 1993.

Sweden Unemployment Rate: 16 to 64 Years: Male data was reported at 5.700 % in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.800 % for Oct 2018. Sweden Unemployment Rate: 16 to 64 Years: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 6.000 % from Jan 1970 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 587 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.300 % in Feb 1994 and a record low of 1.100 % in Sep 1970. Sweden Unemployment Rate: 16 to 64 Years: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Sweden. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.G022: Unemployment Rate: Statistics Sweden.

Unemployment Rate: AMS data was reported at 3.619 % in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.690 % for Oct 2018. Unemployment Rate: AMS data is updated monthly, averaging 4.751 % from Jan 1994 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 299 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.554 % in Jul 1995 and a record low of 2.776 % in May 2008. Unemployment Rate: AMS data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Swedish Public Employment Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.G023: Unemployment Rate: Swedish Public Employment Services. The unemployment rate covers only registered labour force, excluding unemployed workforce who participates in activity support programs.

Graph and download economic data for Adjusted Unemployment Rate in Sweden (DISCONTINUED) from Jan 2007 to Jun 2013 about Sweden, adjusted, unemployment, and rate.

The unemployment rate in Sweden in 2023 was highest among the young population from 15 to 24 years, where 22 percent were unemployed. It was lowest among people from 65 to 74 at just four percent, followed by those between 45 and 54. The unemployment rate in Sweden was 7.7 percent in 2023. Higher unemployment rate among men Traditionally, there has been a slight difference in the unemployment rate among the genders. The unemployment among women was lower than among men over the past decade. However, in 2023, the unemployment rate was marginally higher among women than men. Unemployment benefits Unemployed individuals in Sweden have the possibility to receive unemployment benefits (A-kassa). To receive the benefits, the unemployed needs to be registered at the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), needs to be ready to take a job at any time, and must have had a job for at least six months during the last year. In 2022, nearly 228,000 individuals in Sweden received such benefits.

Historical dataset showing Sweden unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Sweden Unemployment Rate: 15 to 74 Years: Female data was reported at 5.500 % in Nov 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 5.500 % for Oct 2018. Sweden Unemployment Rate: 15 to 74 Years: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 6.900 % from Jan 2001 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 215 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.900 % in Apr 2010 and a record low of 5.100 % in Aug 2002. Sweden Unemployment Rate: 15 to 74 Years: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Sweden. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.G022: Unemployment Rate: Statistics Sweden.