Unemployment Rate: Sweden
Sweden's unemployment rate is currently 8.4% as of 2026. # Sweden Unemployment Rate Sweden's unemployment rate stands at 8.
Current (2026)
8.4%
-6.7% y/y
Peak (1993)
11.2%
Low (1989)
2.0%
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook
1980–2026 · 51 pts
Unemployment Rate — Sweden
1980 — 2026
Unemployment Rate — Sweden
Analysis# Sweden Unemployment Rate
Sweden's unemployment rate stands at 8.4% in 2026, reflecting moderate labor market conditions relative to its historical extremes. The nation's lowest unemployment occurred in 1989 at 2%, while its peak reached 11.2% in 1993 during an economic crisis. Since 1980, the overall rate has increased by 211.1%, indicating a significant upward shift in the structural level of joblessness over four decades.
The early 1990s recession marked Sweden's most severe employment downturn, followed by gradual recovery through the 2000s and 2010s. A notable deterioration emerged in 2020 with the pandemic shock, pushing unemployment to 8.5%, though the rate stabilized between 7.5% and 9% from 2022 onward. Current projections suggest the rate will hover near 8.4%, indicating Sweden has settled into a new equilibrium roughly four times higher than its 1989 low.
Historical Data
51 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 7.9% | -1.25% |
| 2029 | 8.0% | -1.23% |
| 2028 | 8.1% | -2.41% |
| 2027 | 8.3% | -1.19% |
| 2026 | 8.4% | -6.67% |
| 2025 | 9.0% | +7.14% |
| 2024 | 8.4% | +9.09% |
| 2023 | 7.7% | +2.67% |
| 2022 | 7.5% | -15.73% |
| 2021 | 8.9% | +4.71% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | +23.19% |
| 2019 | 6.9% | +7.81% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | -5.88% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | -4.23% |
| 2016 | 7.1% | -5.33% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | -6.25% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | -1.23% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | +0.00% |
| 2012 | 8.1% | +2.53% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | -9.20% |
Show all 51 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.7% | +3.57% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | +33.33% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | +1.61% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | -13.89% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | -8.86% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | +5.33% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | +11.94% |
| 2003 | 6.7% | +9.84% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | +1.67% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | -4.76% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -17.11% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | -13.64% |
| 1998 | 8.8% | -19.27% |
| 1997 | 10.9% | +0.00% |
| 1996 | 10.9% | +4.81% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | -3.70% |
| 1994 | 10.8% | -3.57% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | +57.75% |
| 1992 | 7.1% | +77.50% |
| 1991 | 4.0% | +81.82% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | +10.00% |
| 1989 | 2.0% | -16.67% |
| 1988 | 2.4% | -17.24% |
| 1987 | 2.9% | -19.44% |
| 1986 | 3.6% | -7.69% |
| 1985 | 3.9% | -7.14% |
| 1984 | 4.2% | -12.50% |
| 1983 | 4.8% | +11.63% |
| 1982 | 4.3% | +26.47% |
| 1981 | 3.4% | +25.93% |
| 1980 | 2.7% | — |
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