Labour Market in Sweden

Learn more about trends in the Swedish labour market

R4E addresses the challenges in Sweden

Unemployment levels are high while at the same time many companies struggle to recruit people with the right skills. R4E aims to address these challenges in order to secure long-term prosperity for people, businesses and society as a whole.

Unemployment in Sweden over the last 20 years

Both unemployment and youth unemployment have exceeded the EU average in recent years

Unemployment in 2020 was ~8 %

Unemployment, percentage of labour force (15–74 years)

Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service) (2020); Statistiska centralbyrån (Statistics Sweden); ManpowerGroup (2021); Tillväxtverket (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) (2020)

Youth unemployment in 2020 was ~24 %

Youth unemployment, percentage of labour force (15–24 years)

Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service) (2020); Statistiska centralbyrån (Statistics Sweden); ManpowerGroup (2021); Tillväxtverket (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) (2020)

Many companies struggle to recruit people with the right skills

There are ~100,000 vacant positions in Sweden and many companies have difficulties sourcing candidates with the right skills to fill these positions

Number of vacant jobs, thousands

In addition, automation is expected to lead to 1.3 million new jobs by 2030 Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service) (2020); Statistiska centralbyrån (Statistics Sweden); ManpowerGroup (2021); Tillväxtverket (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) (2020)

3 of 4 Swedish employers have difficulties finding the right competences

according to Talent Shortage, a global survey undertaken by ManpowerGroup

~50% of Swedish companies in building, transport, and manufacturing

find the lack of access to a suitable workforce to be a large impediment to growth

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