Foreign-born workers lead Sweden's employment gains

Sweden's employment figures are improving, with workers born abroad contributing much of the increase. The latest breakdown shows where the gains are coming from, and how far the employment gap still stretches.

There were 5.508 million employed people aged 15–74 in July, up 39,000 from a year earlier, according to SCB's figures released on 29 September.

Government authorities and defence recorded the largest sector increase, adding 13,000 employed people. Education lost 4,000, while information and communication had the largest percentage decline.

Among people aged 20–65, the employment rate remained markedly higher for those born in Sweden: 85.8%, against 71.6% for those born abroad. But the rate rose faster for foreign-born women and men.

Their contribution is clearest in the headcount. Compared with July 2025, there were 14,000 more foreign-born women and 11,000 more foreign-born men in employment, together accounting for roughly two-thirds of the overall increase.

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