Sweden’s Unemployment Falls to Lowest Level Since 2023, but Long-Term Joblessness Rises

We are heading in the right direction, but we are not there yet, says Emil Persson, acting head of forecasting at the Public Employment Service.

Just under 339,000 people were registered as unemployed at the end of October, equivalent to 6.3 percent of the workforce. This was down from the same period last year, when 6.8 percent were unemployed.

The economy is getting stronger, and we also see the labour market improving and companies hiring. Fewer people are registering with us, and more are finding jobs, says Persson.

The improvement is visible among both men and women, and among people born in Sweden and abroad.

Those who have had a job relatively recently and have a viable education have a slightly easier time finding work, while people who have been unemployed for longer still face a very challenging situation.

More long-term unemployed

Unemployment is instead increasing among those who have been unemployed for more than two years.

For those furthest from the labour market, it takes a relatively long period of economic growth for them to also benefit from the positive development, says Persson.

The longer people are unemployed, the harder it can become to find a new job.

It becomes difficult in itself to be unemployed for a long time - your references and work experience are not as fresh, he says, adding that it is significantly more common for people in that group to lack an upper secondary education.

Large geographical differences

Overall, unemployment decreased in all counties during the month compared with October last year, but levels vary.

The highest figure was recorded in Skåne, where 8.2 percent were unemployed. The lowest was in Norrbotten County, at 3.4 percent.

Persson says it is important to keep the clear geographical differences in mind when looking for a job.

If you are looking for work in a county where unemployment is slightly higher, you can try to increase your chances of finding work by searching a little more broadly - by also looking in parts of the country where unemployment is lower and competition for jobs is therefore less.