Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Sweden

Sweden: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 60.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
60.3%
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
18th
of 43 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 1998
All-time low
58.7%
in 2019
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Sweden, 1998–2020

0204060801001998200920201998: 100 Percentage1999: 88 Percentage2000: 96.3 Percentage2001: 69.1 Percentage2002: 70.8 Percentage2003: 86.7 Percentage2004: 85.7 Percentage2005: 68.3 Percentage2006: 66 Percentage2007: 63.6 Percentage2008: 63.1 Percentage2009: 71.2 Percentage2010: 70.4 Percentage2011: 70.6 Percentage2012: 70.7 Percentage2013: 69.2 Percentage2014: 66.8 Percentage2015: 66.5 Percentage2016: 66.3 Percentage2017: 64.3 Percentage2018: 62.1 Percentage2019: 58.7 Percentage2020: 60.3 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Sweden recorded 60.3% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020.

That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Sweden peaked at 100.0% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 58.7%, in 2019.

That places Sweden 18th out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Sweden, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in Sweden, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 100.0%
1999 88.0% -12.0%
2000 96.3% +9.4%
2001 69.1% -28.2%
2002 70.8% +2.5%
2003 86.7% +22.5%
2004 85.7% -1.2%
2005 68.3% -20.3%
2006 66.0% -3.4%
2007 63.6% -3.6%
2008 63.1% -0.8%
2009 71.2% +12.8%
2010 70.4% -1.1%
2011 70.6% +0.3%
2012 70.7% +0.1%
2013 69.2% -2.1%
2014 66.8% -3.5%
2015 66.5% -0.4%
2016 66.3% -0.3%
2017 64.3% -3.0%
2018 62.1% -3.4%
2019 58.7% -5.5%
2020 60.3% +2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 94.0% 88.0% 100.0% 2
2000s 74.1% 63.1% 96.3% 10
2010s 66.6% 58.7% 70.7% 10
2020s 60.3% 60.3% 60.3% 1

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 15 Luxembourg 62.5% compare
  2. 15 Serbia 62.5% compare
  3. 17 Hungary 61.1% compare
  4. 19 Belgium 56.4% compare
  5. 20 Poland 55.2% compare
  6. 20 Poland 55.2% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Sweden?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Sweden was 60.3% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1998.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 58.7% in 2019.
How does Sweden rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Sweden ranks 18th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. 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 Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Sweden. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed