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Labour · Europe & Central Asia · High income

Sweden: the labour market

Labour force is 5.7m (2025), 78th of 187 in the world and 14th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Participation rate is 64.6% (2025), 67th of 187 in the world and 11th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Women's participation is 61.5% (2025), 43rd of 187 in the world and 7th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.

Labour force5.7m2025 · world 78/187 · region 14/49Participation rate64.6%2025 · world 67/187 · region 11/49Women's participation61.5%2025 · world 43/187 · region 7/49Employment rate59.0%2025 · world 82/187 · region 14/49
Labour force
Sweden
4.0m4.5m5.0m5.5m6.0m1995200020052010201520202025Sweden5.7m
Participation rate
SwedenEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
56%58%60%62%64%66%1995200020052010201520202025Sweden64.6%Europe & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
13 indicators

Labour: Sweden in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Labour forceLabour force, total5.7m202578/18714/494.5m4.9m5.5m+10%since 2015429m734m3.7bn
Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+64.6%202567/18711/4962.0%63.2%64.2%+0.7 ppsince 201558.2%61.0%61.0%
Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+61.5%202543/1877/4958.1%59.0%60.6%+1.0 ppsince 201551.1%54.3%48.9%
Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO)59.0%202582/18714/4958.6%57.8%58.8%−0.2 ppsince 201555.1%58.3%58.1%
UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO)8.7%202548/18710/495.5%8.6%8.3%+1.3 ppsince 20155.4%4.4%4.8%
Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO)8.6%202560/18712/495.0%8.5%8.3%+1.3 ppsince 20155.7%4.6%4.9%
Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO)24.3%202535/1879/499.3%24.8%23.9%+3.9 ppsince 201514.0%11.5%13.4%
Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, %5.0%2025166/17043/4619.1%7.8%6.5%−1.9 ppsince 201511.4%10.6%—
Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment89.8%202520/1878/4988.1%88.2%89.3%+0.8 ppsince 201583.3%88.9%53.6%
Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO)6.9%2025169/18742/498.8%8.2%7.5%−0.8 ppsince 201512.9%8.0%42.4%
Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment1.8%2025164/18743/492.9%2.1%1.7%−0.3 ppsince 20156.7%2.9%25.8%
Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment16.8%2025121/18740/4924.4%19.9%18.3%−1.5 ppsince 201523.7%22.2%23.7%
Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment81.4%202516/1876/4972.7%78.0%80.0%+1.7 ppsince 201569.7%74.9%50.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Sweden and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Sweden. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorSwedenDenmarkFinlandNorway
Labour force5.7m20253.3m20252.9m20253.1m2025
Participation rate64.6%202564.9%202559.7%202565.6%2025
Women's participation61.5%202560.8%202556.5%202562.1%2025
Employment rate59.0%202561.3%202554.0%202562.6%2025
Unemployment8.7%20255.5%20259.5%20254.6%2025
Female unemployment8.6%20255.7%20258.9%20254.3%2025
Youth unemployment24.3%202511.7%202521.5%202513.4%2025
Youth NEET rate5.0%20257.9%20259.1%20256.2%2025
Wage workers89.8%202592.1%202587.5%202595.1%2025
Denmark: labourFinland: labourNorway: labour
Labour in Europe & Central Asiaall 58 economies rankedLabour: high-income countries86 economies rankedLabour: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesSweden: all key statisticscountry profile