The labour market

(Arbetsmarknaden)

Approximately half of all Swedes have some kind of job. The unemployment rate was around 9 per cent in 2010.

The labour market is broken down into the private and public sectors. The private sector consists of for-profit businesses, such as shops and manufacturers. The public sector consists of agencies – such as district health centres, schools and police authorities – run by the government, regions or local authorities. About one third of all employees are in the public sector.

What affects the labour market?

(Vad påverkar arbetsmarknaden?)

The number of people who have jobs and the number who are unemployed are affected by several different factors: the state of the economy, the size of the general population, and the number of working-age people. Some occupations may have a shortage of workers because too few people have been trained.

Opportunities vary

(Olika möjligheter och förutsättningar)

Job opportunities vary according to the part of the country you live in, what occupation you are pursuing, your age, whether you are a woman or a man, and whether you were born in Sweden or abroad.

Big cities have more jobs to offer than sparsely populated areas, but they must also provide for more jobseekers. The unemployment rate is higher among young people, the elderly and those born abroad, while women and men do not always have the same job opportunities. Women dominate in health care and certain other fields, whereas men dominate in industry.

People in the baby boom generation of the 1940s will be retiring in the next few years. As a result, new workers will be needed. The sparsely populated areas will be most affected, as large numbers of people move to the big cities.

To find out what the labour market is like in various parts of the country and what occupations have a shortage of workers, contact the Swedish Public Employment Service or a vocational counsellor.