The figures in this statistical news release are based on collected data that contains quality deficiencies. Revised LFS figures have been published and are available here:

Labour Force Surveys

Statistics Sweden’s Statistical Report presents the labour market situation of the population. In the fourth quarter of 2018, there were 5 131 000 employed persons aged 15–74, up by 106 000 from the corresponding quarter in 2017. The number of employed men increased by 51 000 to 2 688 000 and the number of employed women increased by 55 000 to 2 443 000. Among Swedish born persons, the number of employed persons increased by 48 000 to 4 098 000. Among foreign born persons, the corresponding increase was 58 000, which means there were 1 033 000 foreign born employed persons in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The employment rate, that is, the proportion of employed persons in the population, continued to increase in the fourth quarter and amounted to 68.6 percent. This corresponds to an increase of 1.0 percentage points compared with the same period in 2017. The employment rate among men was 70.7 percent, an increase by 0.8 percentage points. Among women it increased by 1.0 percent to 66.4 percent. Among Swedish born persons, the employment rate was 70.4 percent, an increase of 1.0 percentage points. Among foreign born persons, the corresponding figure was 62.2 percent.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows a continued increase in both the number and percentage of employed persons compared with adjacent quarters. The number of employed persons amounted to 5 150 000, which corresponds to an employment rate of 68.9 percent.

There were 4 636 000 employees, up by 101 000 compared with the fourth quarter of 2017. Men accounted for 2 329 000 of the employees, up by 44 000, and women accounted for 2 307 000, up by 57 000. This increase was due to an increased number of permanent employees in the fourth quarter of 2018, 3 895 000 in total, up by 106 000 compared with the corresponding quarter in the previous year. There were 741 000 temporary employees.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows that the number of permanently employed persons continued to increase, while there is no longer a decrease in the number of temporarily employed persons

The number of employees in the private sector continued to increase and amounted to 3 084 000. This is an increase of 48 000 compared with the same quarter in the previous year. The number of employees in the central government sector also increased, by 25 000 to 315 000. There were 1 191 000 employees in the municipal sector.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, the number of hours worked was, on average, 165.4 million hours per week, non-seasonally adjusted. This is an increase of 2.4 percent, in calendar adjusted figures.

There were 311 000 unemployed persons aged 15–74 in the fourth quarter of 2018. Among unemployed persons there were 163 000 men and 147 000 women. Among Swedish born persons, the number of unemployed persons decreased by 25 000 to 130 000. Among foreign born persons, there were 181 000 unemployed persons.

The unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points. The unemployment rate was 5.7 percent among both men and women. Among Swedish born persons, unemployment decreased by 0.6 percentage points to 3.1 percent and among foreign born persons, the unemployment rate was 14.9 percent.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows minor changes in both the number and the percentage of unemployed persons compared with adjacent quarters. The unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, and there were 344 000 unemployed persons.

There were 93 000 persons available but not seeking work in the fourth quarter of 2018, which is a decrease of 27 000 persons compared with the same quarter in the previous year.

Among young people in the labour force aged 15–24, 14.1 percent were unemployed, which corresponds to 82 000 persons, 44 000 of whom are full-time students. Among young men, 14.6 percent were unemployed and among women in the same age group, 13.6 percent were unemployed.

Between the third and fourth quarter of 2018, flow statistics indicate a decrease of 47 000 employed persons aged 15–74. This is due to a net outflow of 73 000 persons moving from employment to outside the labour force and a net inflow of 26 000 from unemployment.

The labour market at a glance, fourth quarter 2018

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

Population aged 15-74:

• The employment rate was 68.6 percent (68.9 percent), up by 1.0 percentage points.
• There were 5 131 000 (5 150 000) employed persons, up by 106 000 persons compared with the fourth quarter 2017.
• The unemployment rate was 5.7 percent (6.3 percent), down by 0.3 percentage points.
• There were 311 000 (344 000) unemployed persons.
• The economic activity rate was 72.7 percent (73.5 percent), up by 0.7 percentage points.
• There were 5 442 000 (5 494 000) persons in the labour force, up by 95 000 persons compared with the fourth quarter 2017.

Population aged 20-64:

• The employment rate was 82.8 percent (83.0 percent), up by 1.1 percentage points.
• The unemployment rate was 5.4 percent (5.7 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 fourth quarter in 2018.