Employment and job openings · Sweden
Sweden Employed Persons
The Sweden Employed Persons measures the change in the number of people employed in Sweden, or the demand for workers (job openings, advertisements, layoffs announced).
- Importance
- Low
- Released
- Monthly
- Next release
- Currency
- SEK · Swedish krona
- Central bank
- The Riksbank
Latest figures
The latest release for SEP, published on 16 October 2026, came in at 5.292M, down from 5.423M the time before.
Over the last 12 releases it ranged from 5.214M to 5.914M, averaging 5.343M; it has been falling for three releases in a row.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2026 | SEP | 5.292M | – | 5.423M |
| 16 Sep 2026 | AUG | 5.423M | – | 5.507M |
| 21 Aug 2026 | JUL | 5.507M | – | 5.398M |
| 15 Jun 2026 | MAY | 5.299M | – | 5.226M |
| 21 May 2026 | APR | 5.226M | – | 5.230M |
| 22 Apr 2026 | MAR | 5.230M | – | 5.250M |
| 13 Mar 2026 | FEB | 5.250M | – | 5.914M |
| 16 Feb 2026 | JAN | 5.914M | – | 5.252M |
| 23 Jan 2026 | DEC | 5.252M | – | 5.275M |
| 12 Dec 2025 | NOV | 5.275M | – | 5.214M |
| 14 Nov 2025 | OCT | 5.214M | – | 5.238M |
| 17 Oct 2025 | SEP | 5.238M | – | 5.320M |
Why it matters
Jobs drive income and spending, and a tight labour market pushes wages and inflation up. the Riksbank watches employment closely, so strong figures support the Swedish krona and weak ones raise the odds of rate cuts. Full-time jobs carry more weight than part-time.
How it is calculated
Most countries count employment from a household labour force survey; job openings come from employer surveys or job-board data; announced job cuts are tallied from company statements.
What changes mean
- Compare with the consensus and with population growth.
- Openings falling while employment holds up is the "soft landing" pattern central banks hope for.
- Quits rising means workers are confident they can find better-paid jobs: wage pressure ahead.
Higher than expected: A stronger figure than expected points to a healthier economy: it usually supports the Swedish krona and local stocks, and can push bond yields up.
Lower than expected: A weaker figure than expected points to slowing activity: the Swedish krona tends to soften and markets price in lower rates.
A short history
Labour force surveys spread after the Second World War, following the US Current Population Survey (1940s); the US job openings survey (JOLTS) began in 2000.
The Riksbank is the world's oldest central bank, founded in 1668.
Questions
What is the Sweden Employed Persons?
The Sweden Employed Persons measures the change in the number of people employed in Sweden, or the demand for workers (job openings, advertisements, layoffs announced).
What was the latest Sweden Employed Persons?
5.292M for SEP, published on 16 October 2026.
When is the next Sweden Employed Persons?
On Friday 20 November 2026 at 07:00 UTC.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.