Labour statistics based on administrative sources (RAMS) and gross pay statistics based on administrative sources (LSUM) 2021
The number of gainfully employed persons increased by 2.6 percent
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2022-11-24 8.00
The number of gainfully employed persons increased by 127 643 people in 2021 compared with the previous year, an increase of 2.6 percent. Gross pay increased by 5.9 percent in the corresponding period.
In 2021, there were 5 109 384 gainfully employed persons, an increase of 2.6 percent compared with 2020. Among all gainfully employed persons, women accounted for 2 460 600, equivalent to 48.2 percent, and men accounted for 2 648 800, equivalent to 51.8 percent. Gross pay increased by 5.9 percent compared with the previous year and amounted to SEK 1 998 billion in 2021. Women’s gross pay increased by 5.8 percent and men’s gross pay increased by 5.9 percent.
Proportion of gainfully employed people increased among those aged 20-64 years
In 2021, the proportion of the population that was gainfully employed was 79.6 percent among people aged 20 to 64 years. The proportion of gainfully employed people was 78.6 percent among women and 80.5 percent among men. The highest proportion of gainfully employed women was 82.8 percent, in Jämtland County, and the highest proportion of gainfully employed men was 84.5 percent, in Jönköping County. Among both women and men, the proportion of those gainfully employed was lowest in Skåne County, at 74.7 percent for women and 76.5 percent for men. The proportion of gainfully employed people increased across all counties between 2020 and 2021.
| Proportion of population gainfully employed persons, 20-64 years (%) | Change in proportion of population gainfylly employed, 20-64 years (percentage points) | Change in gross pay (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | ||
| Blekinge | 78.6 | 79.7 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 5.7 | |
| Dalarna | 79.9 | 82.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 4.8 | |
| Gotland | 80.9 | 81.3 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 6.3 | 6.4 | |
| Gävleborg | 78.5 | 80.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 5.3 | |
| Halland | 82.5 | 83.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 5.7 | 6.1 | |
| Jämtland | 82.8 | 83.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 5.6 | 6.1 | |
| Jönköping | 80.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 5.4 | 6.3 | |
| Kalmar | 79.4 | 82.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 5.3 | 5.5 | |
| Kronoberg | 78 | 81.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 6.0 | |
| Norrbotten | 81.7 | 82.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 5.1 | |
| Skåne | 74.7 | 76.5 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 6.6 | 6.6 | |
| Stockholm | 79.5 | 80.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 6.2 | 6.1 | |
| Södermanland | 76.8 | 79.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 5.8 | 6.5 | |
| Uppsala | 77.6 | 79.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 6.0 | 6.1 | |
| Värmland | 78.3 | 78.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 4.9 | 5.2 | |
| Västerbotten | 79.5 | 82 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 6.1 | |
| Västernorrland | 80.4 | 82.1 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 3.9 | |
| Västmanland | 77.2 | 80.8 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 5.0 | 5.4 | |
| Västra Götaland | 79.2 | 81.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 5.7 | 5.8 | |
| Örebro | 77.7 | 80.6 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 5.1 | 5.3 | |
| Östergötland | 77.8 | 80 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 5.7 | 4.9 | |
| National level | 78.6 | 80.5 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 5.8 | 5.9 | |
Largest share of women is in health and social care
Among women, the largest number was employed in health and social care, 26 percent, which corresponds to 640 900 people, followed by education, 16 percent. Among men, the largest number was employed in mining, quarrying and manufacturing, 16 percent, which corresponds to 411 600 persons, followed by business services, at 13 percent. The distribution of gross pay also shows that, among women, the largest percentage was employed in health and social care, at 26 percent, followed by the education sector, at 16 percent. Among men, the largest proportions of gross pay were in mining, quarrying and manufacturing, at 17 percent, and business services, at 14 percent.
The number of gainfully employed persons in hotels and restaurants increased by 10.7 percent, which was the largest increase in an industry sector since last year. There were 176 400 people employed in hotels and restaurants in 2021. The only industry where the number of employed people decreased was agriculture, forestry and fishing, which decreased by 1.9 percent. There were 96 600 people employed in this industry 2021. The gross pay increased in all industries. The largest increase in gross pay was noted in information and communication, at 9.8 percent.
Among the 15 industry sectors presented, seven had an equal gender distribution, which means that one sex accounted for at least 40 percent of the gainfully employed persons. The most balanced participation of men and women was in the hotels and restaurants and financial and insurance activities, in which each sex accounted for 50 percent of gainfully employed persons. The construction industry had the least equal distribution between the sexes; women accounted for 10 percent and men accounted for 90 percent of gainfully employed persons.
Definitions and explanations
Gross pay statistics based on income statements, LSUM, measure gross pay only for the work of employees for one year, while labour market statistics based on administrative sources, RAMS, measure employment for both employees and self-employed persons in November.
Statistical Database
More information is available in the Statistical Database
Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.