The public sector in Sweden is large compared to many other countries. It consists of the central government and the municipal sector. In 2022, around 1.5 million people were employed in the public sector. Most of them were employed in the country's municipal sector, a total of roughly 1.2 million people. Of these, nearly 790,000 were between 25 and 54 years old. In the central government sector, 270,000 of the 356,000 employees belonged to this age group.
Most employees employed in the private sector
However, most of Sweden’s employed inhabitants work in the private sector , amounting to over three million in 2022. The municipal sector was the second largest, followed by the central government sector. A total of 4.68 million people were employed in Sweden in 2022.
Average salaries slightly higher in the private sector
Number of people employed in public sector in Sweden in 2022, by age groups
(in thousands)
Characteristic
Central government
Municipal sector
15-24 years
13.4
80.1
25-54 years
269.7
788.9
55-74 years
73.2
291.2
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Number of employees in thousands13.413.4269.7269.773.273.280.180.1788.9788.9291.2291.2Central governmentMunicipal sector15-24 years25-54 years55-74 years
02004006008001,000
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Statistics Sweden. (January 27, 2023). Number of people employed in public sector in Sweden in 2022, by age groups (in thousands) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/528053/sweden-employed-in-public-sector-by-age-groups/
Statistics Sweden. "Number of people employed in public sector in Sweden in 2022, by age groups (in thousands)." Chart. January 27, 2023. Statista. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/528053/sweden-employed-in-public-sector-by-age-groups/
Statistics Sweden. (2023). Number of people employed in public sector in Sweden in 2022, by age groups (in thousands). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/528053/sweden-employed-in-public-sector-by-age-groups/
Statistics Sweden. "Number of People Employed in Public Sector in Sweden in 2022, by Age Groups (in Thousands)." Statista, Statista Inc., 27 Jan 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/528053/sweden-employed-in-public-sector-by-age-groups/
Statistics Sweden, Number of people employed in public sector in Sweden in 2022, by age groups (in thousands) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/528053/sweden-employed-in-public-sector-by-age-groups/ (last visited February 21, 2025)
Number of people employed in public sector in Sweden in 2022, by age groups (in thousands) [Graph], Statistics Sweden, January 27, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/528053/sweden-employed-in-public-sector-by-age-groups/
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