Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden

Sweden: Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job was 309 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
309 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
11th
of 45 countries
All-time high
624.2 Thousand persons
in 2014
All-time low
275.2 Thousand persons
in 2003
Years of data
31
1995–2025

Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden, 1995–2025

02004006001995201020251995: 535.3 Thousand persons1996: 487.5 Thousand persons1997: 503 Thousand persons1998: 499.3 Thousand persons1999: 537.1 Thousand persons2000: 407.6 Thousand persons2001: 313.6 Thousand persons2002: 296.2 Thousand persons2003: 275.2 Thousand persons2004: 310.4 Thousand persons2005: 532.3 Thousand persons2006: 561.3 Thousand persons2007: 576.8 Thousand persons2008: 540.6 Thousand persons2009: 547.3 Thousand persons2010: 575.5 Thousand persons2011: 582.6 Thousand persons2012: 574.9 Thousand persons2013: 599.3 Thousand persons2014: 624.2 Thousand persons2015: 619.4 Thousand persons2016: 588.5 Thousand persons2017: 568.7 Thousand persons2018: 552.1 Thousand persons2019: 530.2 Thousand persons2020: 521 Thousand persons2021: 352.7 Thousand persons2022: 336 Thousand persons2023: 316 Thousand persons2024: 303.8 Thousand persons2025: 309 Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

In 2025, employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden stood at 309 Thousand persons.

That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and down 50.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden peaked at 624.2 Thousand persons in 2014 and was at its lowest, 275.2 Thousand persons, in 2003.

That places Sweden 11th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.

Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden, year by year

Annual values for Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden, 1995 to 2025.
Year Thousand persons Change
1995 535.3 Thousand persons
1996 487.5 Thousand persons -8.9%
1997 503 Thousand persons +3.2%
1998 499.3 Thousand persons -0.7%
1999 537.1 Thousand persons +7.6%
2000 407.6 Thousand persons -24.1%
2001 313.6 Thousand persons -23.1%
2002 296.2 Thousand persons -5.5%
2003 275.2 Thousand persons -7.1%
2004 310.4 Thousand persons +12.8%
2005 532.3 Thousand persons +71.5%
2006 561.3 Thousand persons +5.4%
2007 576.8 Thousand persons +2.8%
2008 540.6 Thousand persons -6.3%
2009 547.3 Thousand persons +1.2%
2010 575.5 Thousand persons +5.2%
2011 582.6 Thousand persons +1.2%
2012 574.9 Thousand persons -1.3%
2013 599.3 Thousand persons +4.2%
2014 624.2 Thousand persons +4.2%
2015 619.4 Thousand persons -0.8%
2016 588.5 Thousand persons -5.0%
2017 568.7 Thousand persons -3.4%
2018 552.1 Thousand persons -2.9%
2019 530.2 Thousand persons -4.0%
2020 521 Thousand persons -1.7%
2021 352.7 Thousand persons -32.3%
2022 336 Thousand persons -4.7%
2023 316 Thousand persons -6.0%
2024 303.8 Thousand persons -3.9%
2025 309 Thousand persons +1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 512.44 Thousand persons 487.5 Thousand persons 537.1 Thousand persons 5
2000s 436.13 Thousand persons 275.2 Thousand persons 576.8 Thousand persons 10
2010s 581.54 Thousand persons 530.2 Thousand persons 624.2 Thousand persons 10
2020s 356.42 Thousand persons 303.8 Thousand persons 521 Thousand persons 6

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 8 Poland 461.3 Thousand persons compare
  2. 8 Poland 461.3 Thousand persons compare
  3. 10 Belgium 315.8 Thousand persons compare
  4. 12 Netherlands 299.8 Thousand persons compare
  5. 12 Netherlands 299.8 Thousand persons compare
  6. 14 Portugal 272.6 Thousand persons compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden?
Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden was 309 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job recorded in Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 624.2 Thousand persons in 2014.
What is the lowest employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 275.2 Thousand persons in 2003.
How does Sweden rank for employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job?
Sweden ranks 11th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is down 50.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sweden data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job in Sweden. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employees-who-could-not-find-a-permanent-or-full-time-job/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Employees who could not find a permanent or full-time job
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,429 data points, 1983–2025
Last refreshed