Sweden's Unemployment Rate, June 2026: A Region-by-Region Look

Sweden's registered unemployment fell to 6.4% in June 2026, down from 6.9% a year earlier. 344,357 people were registered as unemployed with Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden's public employment agency. That's 22,000 fewer than in June 2025.

The drop matches the agency's own forecasts. But the national number hides sharp differences between regions, age groups, and how long people have been out of work. A second, broader measure from Statistics Sweden (SCB) tells a slightly different story.

Fewer layoff notices, more people placed in jobs

Two numbers stand out more than the headline rate. Layoff notices, or varsel, are Sweden's early-warning signal for redundancies. They dropped to 2,857 in June, nearly half the 4,606 recorded a year earlier. At the same time, 35,673 people found work through Arbetsförmedlingen, up from 32,405.

Fewer layoff notices means fewer companies are cutting staff. More placements means more people are landing jobs. Both point the same direction: a labor market tightening, if gradually. New jobseeker registrations dipped slightly too, from 44,099 to 42,980. Fewer people are entering the system right now.

Youth and long-term unemployment move at different speeds

Youth unemployment, ages 18 to 24, came in at 7.3%, or 39,134 people. A year earlier it was 7.8% and 41,939 people. An improvement. But young workers still feel economic swings more sharply than older ones.

Long-term unemployment moves slower. 148,497 people had been without work for twelve months or more in June, versus 151,979 the year before. That's a drop of just 2.3%, well below the overall 6% decline. Nearly half of the long-term unemployed were born outside Europe. Arbetsförmedlingen says their outcomes have improved faster than for Sweden-born jobseekers. The gap remains wide.

Skåne highest, Norrbotten lowest

Regional gaps are stark. Skåne tops the list at 8.4% unemployment. Södermanland sits at 8.0%, Västmanland at 7.8%. Norrbotten has the lowest rate in the country: 3.4%, less than half Skåne's level.

Job hunting? It can be worth looking beyond your own county. Running a business in a low-unemployment region like Norrbotten? Expect tougher competition for candidates.

SCB's measure tells a slightly different story

Arbetsförmedlingen's numbers count how many people are registered as jobseekers. That's a register. SCB measures differently. Its labor force survey (AKU) asks a sample of the population directly, whether or not they're registered anywhere. SCB's latest seasonally adjusted figure puts unemployment at 8.7%.

6.4% and 8.7% aren't measuring quite the same thing. That's not a contradiction. AKU captures groups Arbetsförmedlingen's register misses, including people job hunting without registering with the agency. Getting the full picture means holding both numbers in mind. Don't pick one.

What this means for you

Job hunting: more placements and fewer layoff notices are good signs, especially if you're open to looking outside your own county. Browse open jobs on Recruit.se to see what's out there right now, anywhere in the country.

Hiring, especially in a low-unemployment county? Competition for candidates is sharper there. Post a vacancy with us to reach candidates across Sweden.

Arbetsförmedlingen's next report, covering July, is due August 13, 2026.