Unemployment rate in Sweden 2001-2023, by gender

In Sweden, the unemployment rate was higher among men than among women over the past decade. However, in 2019, female unemployment rate was higher for the first time since 2008. In 2023, the unemployment rate among men was 7.5 percent, compared to eight for women. The general unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in 2023. 

High youth unemployment rate

The young population, from 15 to 19 years, had the highest rate of unemployment in 2022. In this age group, the unemployment rate was 35 percent. The second highest unemployment rate was in the age group from 20 to 24 years, reaching 14 percent. As of August 2023, Sweden had the sixth highest youth unemployment rate in the European Union.

Unemployment benefits

To be eligible to receive unemployment benefits in Sweden, the unemployed needs to be registered at the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), needs to be ready to take a job at any time, and needs to have had a job for at least six months during the last year. Nearly 228,000 individuals in Sweden received unemployment benefits (A-kassa) in 2022.