In November, that figure was 8.2 percent. At the same time, the employment rate increased and, according to seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, it was 69.1 percent.
"Even in December, we see some positive signs in the labour market. Labour force participation is increasing and, in terms of seasonally adjusted and smoothed data, employment and hours worked are increasing," says Ludvig Renberg, statistician at the Labor Force Surveys at Statistics Sweden in a press release.
The Swedish Public Employment Service and Statistics Sweden report unemployment in Sweden every month. However, the statistics differ, often quite significantly, because the authorities measure it in different ways.
The employment service counts those actually registered with the agency and also uses a narrower age range. Total unemployment is measured for ages 16-65. Youth unemployment refers to people aged 18-24.
Statistics Sweden (SCB) uses a sample survey. The age range is 15-74 years for total unemployment and 15-24 years for youth unemployment.
In Statistics Sweden's measurement method (which is based on international criteria), a large proportion of full-time students are also counted as young unemployed. It is often enough for a full-time student to want an extra job, or to be waiting for a summer job that will start later, to be counted as unemployed.
Source: Swedish Employment Service, Statistics Sweden
