Swedish Jobless Rate Falls to 8.1%

Sweden’s unemployment rate fell to 8.1% in September 2026 from 8.3% in the same period a year earlier. The total number of unemployed people declined by 9.5 thousand from September 2025 to 466.4 thousand, which consists of 239 thousand unemployed women and 227 thousand unemployed men, corresponding to 8.6% and 7.6%, respectively. Among people aged 15-24, 168 thousand were unemployed, corresponding to a youth unemployment rate of 20.8%. The number of long-term unemployed, defined as those jobless for at least 27 weeks, amounted to 173 thousand, with women accounting for 74 thousand and men 99 thousand. Meanwhile, employment among people aged 15-74 rose by 54.2 thousand from a year ago to 5.3 million, including 2.53 million women and 2.76 million men. The average total number of hours worked per week stood at 175.4 million. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate was 8.7%, while the youth unemployment stood at 23.2%.

Sweden’s unemployment rate rose to 8.5% in August 2026 from 8.4% in the same period a year earlier. The total number of unemployed people increased by 19.3 thousand from August 2025 to 505.2 thousand, which consists of 251 thousand unemployed women and 255 thousand unemployed men, corresponding to 8.9% and 8.2%, respectively. Among people aged 15-24, 144 thousand were unemployed, corresponding to a youth unemployment rate of 18.4%. The number of long-term unemployed, defined as those jobless for at least 27 weeks, fell by 36 thousand to 168 thousand, with women accounting for 73,000 and men 95,000. Meanwhile, employment among people aged 15-74 rose by 102.6 thousand from a year earlier to 5.4 million, including 2.58 million women, up 61,000, and 2.85 million men. The average total number of hours worked per week stood at 128.7 million. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate was 8.7%, while the youth unemployment stood at 23.8%.

Sweden’s unemployment rate fell to 7.8% in July 2026 from 8.0% in the same period a year earlier, marking the lowest level since November 2024. The total number of unemployed people declined by 6,400 from July 2025 to 467,700, which consists of 238,000 unemployed women and 230,000 unemployed men, corresponding to 8.3% and 7.4%, respectively. Among people aged 15-24, 138,000 were unemployed, corresponding to a youth unemployment rate of 16.1%. The number of long-term unemployed, defined as those jobless for at least 27 weeks, reached 144,000, including 65,000 thousand women and 80,000 men. Meanwhile, employment among people aged 15-74 rose by 69,100 from a year earlier to 5.5 million, including 2.639 million employed women and 2.868 employed men. The average total number of hours worked per week stood at 104.4 million. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate was 8.7%, while the youth unemployment stood at 24.4%.