In February 2020, there were 5 077 000 employed persons aged 15─74, not seasonally adjusted. There were 2 685 000 employed men and 2 392 000 employed women. The employment rate was 67.4 percent. The employment rate for men was 70.0 percent and the employment rate for women was 64.7 percent. In February 2020, the smoothed and seasonally adjusted number of employed persons was 5 152 000, which is an increase compared with recent months. However, the employment rate, which was 68.4 percent, noted only minor changes.

There were 4 610 000 employees aged 15─74 in February 2020, not seasonally adjusted. Among men, the number of employees was 2 344 000 and among women it was 2 266 000. There were 3 894 000 permanent employees during this period. Among men, the number of permanent employees was 2 020 000 and among women it was 1 874 000. There were 716 000 temporary employees. Among men, there were 325 000 temporary employees and among women there were 392 000 temporary employees. Compared with nearby months, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data showed minor changes in the number of permanent employees and in the number of temporary employees.

The average number of hours worked in February 2020 amounted to 168.4 million per week, not seasonally adjusted. Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data showed an increase in the number of hours worked per week compared with recent months. The average number of hours worked amounted to 154.5 million per week in February 2020.

In February 2020, there were 454 000 unemployed persons aged 15─74, 57 000 persons more than in the same period a year ago. The unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, an increase of 0.9 percentage points. There were 218 000 unemployed women, an increase of 40 000 persons, and 236 000 unemployed men. The unemployment rate was 8.3 percent among women, an increase of 1.4 percentage points, and 8.1 percent among men. Among young persons aged 15─24, there were 140 000 unemployed persons, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 22.7 percent. Among unemployed young people, 101 000 persons were full-time students. Among persons aged 15–74, both the smoothed and seasonally adjusted number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate increased compared with nearby months. There were 399 000 unemployed persons in February 2020, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent. Among young persons aged 15─24, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data showed minor changes in the number of unemployed persons and an increase in the unemployment rate. There were 128 000 unemployed young persons, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 20.3 percent.

Supplementary information on the Labour Force Surveys (LFS)

The February LFS statistics are based on data collection carried out by Statistics Sweden’s Data Collection Department in order to provide the most reliable description possible of the labour market. However, as Statistics Sweden has discontinued collaboration with an external supplier, who was responsible from May 2018 for data collection of 50 percent of the LFS sample, this means that the statistics are based on a reduced sample and thus, are more uncertain. This applies overall, but may be especially noticeable for estimates at a more disaggregated level.

Larger uncertainty figures for level estimates lead to larger uncertainty intervals. This also means that comparisons within one year are affected. Larger uncertainty figures require larger differences than before between the periods for a statistically significant change to be defined as such. It should be noted that the increased uncertainty described here only refers to larger uncertainty intervals, not larger bias in the estimates.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data are also affected, although in absolute terms, the effect is smaller than for level and change estimates, as the series are based on estimates from several points in time.

The survey sample will be expanded in the spring to address the issue of the small sample. In addition, Statistics Sweden will receive new data from the Swedish Tax Agency for the purpose of improving the estimation procedure and thereby further reducing uncertainty in the estimates.

2020-04-21 at 9:30.