Last year, the number increased by almost 30 percent compared with 2024, from 13,500 to around 17,400. There may be several reasons behind the increase, according to Lars Lööw, Director General of the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
It's probably both that it's a challenge in the work environment and that it rightly gets more attention, he tells Sveriges Radio.
In many cases, it is a problem in the organization of work where the individual has little influence over their work and a high workload.
It often leads to mental illness, Lööw says.
To address the increase, responsibility for the work environment needs to be taken higher up the decision-making chain, Lööw says.
