Statistics Sweden: Positive signs in the labor market as employment rises and unemployment holds steady

The employment rate, the proportion of people with jobs in relation to the population, rose to 69.6 percent compared with 69.5 percent in July, according to seasonally adjusted and trend figures.

Unemployment remained unchanged at 8.7 percent compared with previous months.

"In August, we see positive signs in the labour market. Both employment and labour force participation are increasing. The increase in the number of employed people is mainly driven by women," says Felicia Holm, statistician at the Labour Force Surveys at Statistics Sweden, in a press release.