Statistics Sweden’s Statistical Report presents the labour market situation for the population aged 15 to 74. The number of employed persons increased by 130 000 to 5 104 000 in the third quarter of 2017, compared with the same quarter of the previous year. The employment rate, that is, the percentage of employed persons in the population, was 68.9 percent, an increase of 1.0 percentage points. The employment rate increased among both men and women. Among foreign born persons it was 62.8 percent, an increase of 1.6 percentage points. Among Swedish born persons, the employment rate was 70.5 percent, an increase of 1.0 percentage points.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows a continued positive development in both the number and percentage of employed persons compared with adjacent quarters.

The number of employed persons in construction continued to increase and amounted to 347 000 in the third quarter, an increase of 15 000 persons compared with the same quarter the previous year. The number of employed persons also increased in information and communication, public administration and education.

Employed persons include underemployed persons, that is, those who want to and are able to work more than they do. In the third quarter of 2017, the number of underemployed persons amounted to 222 000 which corresponds to 4,3 percent of the employed.

The total number of employees increased by 132 000 and amounted to 4 612 000. The number of permanently employed persons increased by 93 000 to 3 786 000. The number of permanently employed women increased by 48 000 to 1 852 000, and the number of permanently employed men increased by 45 000 to 1 934 000. There were 826 000 temporary employees, an increase of 39 000 persons. The number of temporarily employed men increased by 28 000 to 389 000 and the number of temporarily employed women amounted to 438 000.

The number of private sector employees continued to increase and amounted to 3 087 000, an increase of 79 000 persons. At the same time, the number of municipal employees increased by 49 000 to 1 185 000. The number of central government sector employees amounted to 295 000.

In the third quarter of 2017, 339 000 persons aged 15–74 were unemployed. Unemployed men amounted to 182 000 and unemployed women amounted to 158 000. The unemployment rate was 6.2 percent. Among women the unemployment rate amounted to 6.1 percent and among men it amounted to 6.3 percent. The unemployment rate among foreign born persons amounted to 14.6 percent while the unemployment rate was 4.0 percent among Swedish born persons.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data show small changes in the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate compared with the previous quarter. Seasonally adjusted and smoothed the number of unemployed amounted to 363 000 persons, an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent.

In the third quarter of 2017, the number of hours worked on average was 137.0 million per week not seasonally adjusted. In calendar-adjusted figures, this was an increase of 1.1 percent compared with the third quarter of 2016.

In the third quarter of 2017 the unemployment rate among young persons aged 15–24 was 14.6 percent, corresponding to 97 000 persons. Of these, 30 000 were full-time students. Among men aged 15 to 24 the unemployment rate was 15.3 percent and among women the unemployment rate was 13.8 percent.

Among persons aged 65 to 74 years, the employment rate increased by 2.2 percentage points to 17.3 percent in the third quarter of 2017. In total, 193 000 persons in this age group were employed, an increase of 25 000 persons. Among men the employment rate was 21.8 percent, an increase of 3.6 percentage points, and among women it was 12.9 percent. Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows a continued increase in both the employment rate and the number of employed.

Between the second and third quarter of 2017, flow statistics indicate an outflow of 43 000 persons aged 15–74 from the unemployment category. The outflow mainly comes from an outflow of persons from unemployment to employment, 35 000 persons. There were 8 000 persons who went from being unemployed to not being in the labour force. The number of employed increased by 54 000 persons as there was also a positive inflow of persons from not being in the labour force of 19 000. From not in the labour force there was a net outflow of 11 000 persons.

The labour market at a glance, third quarter 2017

Non-seasonally adjusted values (seasonally adjusted and smoothed values are given in brackets).

Population aged 15–74:

• The employment rate was 68.9 percent (67.9 percent), an increase of 1.0 percentage points.
• The number of employed persons was 5 104 000 (5 034 000), an increase of 130 000 persons compared with the third quarter of 2016.
• The unemployment rate was 6.2 percent (6.7 percent).
• The number of unemployed persons was 339 000 (363 000).
• The economic activity rate was 73.5 percent (72.8 percent), an increase of 1.1 percentage points.
• The number of people in the labour force was 5 443 000 (5 396 000), an increase of 135 000 persons compared with the third quarter of 2016.

Population aged 20–64:

• The employment rate was 82.7 percent (81.9 percent), an increase of 0.7 percentage points.
• The unemployment rate was 5.7 percent (6.1 percent).

A more detailed report on the labour market situation for the entire population aged 15-74 is available in the Statistical Report on the third quarter in 2017.