Sweden: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Sweden?

Unemployment in Sweden was 8.7% in August 2026, smoothed and seasonally adjusted, according to the labour force survey of Statistics Sweden (SCB). Eurostat's seasonally adjusted series shows 8.9% for August, and 23.0% for people under 25.

The rates follow the International Labour Organization definition: people without work who are looking for and able to start a job. In Sweden, full-time students who are looking for work count as unemployed, which raises the youth rate. The youth rate is a share of the young labour force, not of all young people. SCB's smoothed series irons out monthly noise in the survey.

Official sources: Statistics Sweden · Eurostat: Unemployment by sex and age, monthly (une_rt_m)

What is the average salary in Sweden?

The average monthly salary in Sweden was SEK 42,900 before tax in 2025, according to Statistics Sweden (SCB). The median salary was SEK 38,300.

The median is the middle salary when all are ranked, so half of employees earn less and half more; it is less affected by very high earners than the average. SCB's salary search gives averages by occupation, sex, age and sector.

Official sources: SCB: Medellöner i Sverige · SCB: Medianlöner i Sverige · SCB: Salary search

Does Sweden have a minimum wage?

Sweden has no statutory minimum wage. Eurostat's table of monthly minimum wages lists no figure for Sweden.

Minimum pay is instead set in collective agreements between employers and trade unions, sector by sector, and these differ by industry, age and experience. For a sense of pay levels, Statistics Sweden reports an average monthly salary of SEK 42,900 in 2025 and a median of SEK 38,300.

Official sources: Eurostat: Monthly minimum wages (earn_mw_cur) · SCB: Medellöner i Sverige

What is the retirement age in Sweden?

The target retirement age (riktålder) in Sweden is 67 from 2026 to 2032, according to the Swedish Pensions Agency (Pensionsmyndigheten). People born in 1958 have a target age of 66.

The target age follows average life expectancy and is set six years before it takes effect. The income and premium pensions can be drawn from three years before a person's target age, with transitional rules for some. The guarantee pension and housing supplement can only be paid from the target age. People born from 1960 to 1965 have a fixed target age that will not change.

Official sources: Pensionsmyndigheten: Riktålder

What is the average wage in Sweden?

In 2025, average monthly earnings of employees in Sweden was $4,783 a month, according to the ILO. The peak was $4,955 a month in 2014 and the low $4,065 a month in 2015. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was $3,252 a month, and Sweden placed 11th highest of 32. Of 57 countries with 2025 data, 12th highest.

What is Sweden's unemployment rate?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 8.7%. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 8.8%; its low point was 2007, at 6.2%. It is 9th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 5.5%. World rank, highest first: 41st of 174.

What is youth unemployment in Sweden?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 24.3%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 17.4% (2018) to 25.0% (2009). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 14.2%, and Sweden placed 9th highest of 47. Worldwide: 32nd of 174.

What is the labour force participation rate in Sweden?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 64.6%. The peak was 64.9% in 2023 and the low 63.2% in 2010. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 60.3%, and Sweden placed 11th highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 65th of 174.

What share of women in Sweden are in the labour force?

61.5%: that is the labour force participation rate for women in Sweden for 2025, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 61.7%; its low point was 2010, at 59.0%. It is 7th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 54.6%. World rank, highest first: 41st of 174.

How many people in Sweden are employed?

In 2025, the employment to population ratio in Sweden was 59.0%, according to the ILO. The peak was 60.4% in 2018 and the low 57.8% in 2010. It is 14th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 56.6%. Worldwide: 80th of 174.

How many workers in Sweden are self-employed or family workers?

6.9%: that is the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Sweden for 2025, according to the ILO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 41st highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 11.0%. Worldwide: 160th of 174.

How many people in Sweden are employees?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are paid employees in Sweden was 89.8% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 85.5%; Sweden is 7th highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 16th of 174.