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.

The unemployment rate in Sweden increased by 0.9 percentage points (+11.83 percent) in 2024 in comparison to the previous year. In total, the unemployment rate amounted to 8.53 percent in 2024. The unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population currently without work but in search of employment. The unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed, children, or retirees.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Norway and Finland.

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 July 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.

Unemployment Rate in Sweden increased to 9.70 percent in May from 8.90 percent in April 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.

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.

As of April 2024, Sweden is estimated to have the highest unemployment rate of the Nordic countries with 8.4 percent respectively. Iceland and Norway had the lowest, below four percent.

Sweden - Unemployment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) was 4.70% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Unemployment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Unemployment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) reached a record high of 4.80% in December of 2005 and a record low of 3.50% in December of 2008.

The employment rate among Sweden's foreign-born population increased slowly from 2011 to 2019, but fell in 2020 after the outbreak of COVID-19, reaching 60.6 percent in 2021. Following the peak of the pandemic, this increased to 67.1 percent in 2023. Simultaneously, the unemployment rate increased, nearly reaching 20 percent in 2021 after being around 15 percent in the years before the pandemic. It then fell to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, and reached 15.1 by 2023. By comparison, the overall employment rate in Sweden was 69.4 percent in 2023, making it five percentage points higher than among the foreign-born population.

In the first half of the last decade, Norway had the lowest unemployment rates of the Nordic countries, whereas Iceland had the lowest rates at the second half of the decade. However, in 2020, after the outbreak of COVID-19, Iceland's unemployment rate rose sharply, overtaking both Norway and Denmark. Since 2013, Finland had the highest unemployment rates in the Nordic region, but were overtaken by Sweden in 2020. In 2023, Sweden had an unemployment rate of close to nine percent.

In the Swedish Capital of Stockholm, the unemployment rate rose to ***** percent in 2020 after the outbreak of COVID-19. It fell slightly in 2021, but was still higher than in the years before the outbreak of the pandemic, and dropped below ***** percent in 2022.

Key information about Sweden Labour Force Participation Rate

• Sweden Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 74.8 % in Jan 2025, compared with 74.1 % in the previous month.
• Sweden Labour Force Participation Rate is updated monthly, available from Apr 2005 to Jan 2025, with an average rate of 72.2 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 79.0 % in Jun 2024 and a record low of 69.3 % in Jan 2012.
• Sweden Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Sweden Population reached 10.4 million people in Dec 2020.
• Unemployment Rate of Sweden dropped to 7.2 % in May 2023.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 4,539.3 USD in Nov 2024.

Sweden - Unemployment rate: Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels 0-2) was 24.60% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Unemployment rate: Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels 0-2) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Unemployment rate: Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels 0-2) reached a record high of 24.60% in December of 2020 and a record low of 11.90% in December of 2007.

Key information about Sweden Labour Productivity Growth

• Sweden Labour Productivity improved by 2.56 % YoY in Dec 2024, compared with a growth of 2.14 % in the previous quarter
• Sweden Labour Productivity Growth data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1994 to Dec 2024, averaging at 1.37 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 10.70 % in Jun 2021 and a record low of -5.73 % in Dec 2008

CEIC calculates Labour Productivity Growth from quarterly Real GDP and monthly Employment. Statistics Sweden provides Real GDP in local currency, at chain linked 2023 prices and Employment. Labour Productivity Growth prior to Q1 2002 is calculated from Employment sourced from Eurostat.


Further information about Sweden Labour Productivity Growth

• In the latest reports, Sweden Population reached 10.38 Person mn in Dec 2020
• Its Unemployment Rate dropped to 7.19 % in May 2023
• Monthly Earnings of Sweden stood at 4,518.89 USD in Dec 2024
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 74.83 % in Jan 2025

Sweden - Unemployment by sex and age – monthly data was 24.90 % of population in the labour force in May of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Unemployment by sex and age – monthly data - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Unemployment by sex and age – monthly data reached a record high of 29.90 % of population in the labour force in July of 2020 and a record low of 2.90 % of population in the labour force in June of 1990.

Key information about Sweden population

• The Sweden population reached 10.4 million people in Dec 2020, compared with the previously reported figure of 10.3 million people in Dec 2019
• The data reached an all-time high of 10.4 million people in Dec 2020 and a record low of 1.8 million people in Dec 1749

Further information about Sweden population data

• In the latest reports, Sweden Unemployment Rate dropped to 7.2 % in May 2023
• Monthly earnings of the Sweden population was 4,340.3 USD in Mar 2023
• Sweden Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 75.9 % in May 2023

Unemployed persons aged 15-74 (LFS) by duration of unemployment, sex, age, observations and year

Sweden’s gross domestic product generally increased over the past decade apart from the year 2020, when it decreased slightly due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decline in the growth rate was -1.7 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year.Household consumption affects the GDP There are many factors affecting the gross domestic product of a country, and the household consumption is one important factor. The household consumption is connected to several factors, such as level of employment and inflation, as people will hold on to their savings in times of high unemployment and high inflation. In recent years, both the inflation rate and unemployment rate were exceptionally high, leading to slowing GDP growth.Export of goods Another important factor influencing Sweden’s GDP is the export of services and goods. High export levels will boost a country's GDP. However, if imports exceed exports, this leads to a trade deficit, having a negative impact on a country's currency.

Key information about Sweden Monthly Earnings

• Sweden Monthly Earnings stood at 4,519 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the previous figure of 4,543 USD in Nov 2024
• Sweden Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1996 to Dec 2024, with an average number of 4,329 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 5,598 USD in Mar 2014 and a record low of 2,251 USD in Jun 2001

CEIC converts Monthly Earnings into USD. Statistics Sweden provides Average Monthly Earnings in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Monthly Earnings cover Private Sector only and exclude Commission Earnings.


Further information about Sweden Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, Sweden Population reached 10 million people in Dec 2020
• Unemployment Rate of Sweden dropped to 7 % in May 2023
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 75 % in Jan 2025

In 2021, Sweden had the highest unemployment rate among men in the Nordic countries, slightly higher than Finland. Both had an unemployment rate of above eight percent. Norway had the lowest unemployment rates, below five percent. Iceland's unemployment rate decreased steadily from 2010 to 2018, but increased again until 2020. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, unemployment rates increased in all Nordic countries in 2020.

The number of recipients of unemployment benefits in Sweden increased sharply in 2020 and 2021 following the outbreak of COVID-19, before falling back to a normal level in 2022. That year, there were just below 228,000 persons receiving unemployment benefits in Sweden.