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

Sweden: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 68.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
68.0%
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
12th
of 44 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 1998
All-time low
62.6%
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: 76.5 Percentage2002: 74.3 Percentage2003: 92.4 Percentage2004: 90.8 Percentage2005: 72.6 Percentage2006: 70.6 Percentage2007: 65.9 Percentage2008: 69.7 Percentage2009: 75.8 Percentage2010: 74 Percentage2011: 74.7 Percentage2012: 75.1 Percentage2013: 72.6 Percentage2014: 70.6 Percentage2015: 71.2 Percentage2016: 69.9 Percentage2017: 68.3 Percentage2018: 64.2 Percentage2019: 62.6 Percentage2020: 68 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Sweden recorded 68.0% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.6% on the previous year and down 8.1% 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, 62.6%, in 2019.

That places Sweden 12th out of 44 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 - quarterly data in Sweden, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 100.0%
1999 88.0% -12.0%
2000 96.3% +9.4%
2001 76.5% -20.6%
2002 74.3% -2.9%
2003 92.4% +24.4%
2004 90.8% -1.7%
2005 72.6% -20.0%
2006 70.6% -2.8%
2007 65.9% -6.7%
2008 69.7% +5.8%
2009 75.8% +8.8%
2010 74.0% -2.4%
2011 74.7% +0.9%
2012 75.1% +0.5%
2013 72.6% -3.3%
2014 70.6% -2.8%
2015 71.2% +0.8%
2016 69.9% -1.8%
2017 68.3% -2.3%
2018 64.2% -6.0%
2019 62.6% -2.5%
2020 68.0% +8.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 94.0% 88.0% 100.0% 2
2000s 78.5% 65.9% 96.3% 10
2010s 70.3% 62.6% 75.1% 10
2020s 68.0% 68.0% 68.0% 1

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 9 Slovakia 70.3% compare
  2. 9 Slovakia 70.3% compare
  3. 11 Germany 69.7% compare
  4. 13 Luxembourg 66.9% compare
  5. 14 Croatia 66.5% compare
  6. 14 Croatia 66.5% compare

See the full ranking of 46 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 68.0% 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 62.6% in 2019.
How does Sweden rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Sweden ranks 12th out of 44 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 8.1%. 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 Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. 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 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed