The forecast for 2020 and 2021 is good, but the demand for labor will be dampened. This is what the Employment Service writes in a press release. For the period, the number of employed persons aged 16–64 is estimated to increase by 45,000 persons.

- We have had a period of rare high growth in new jobs. What is holding back growth in the coming years is mainly a weaker demand in the outside world, but also a continuing shortage of educated labor, says Annelie Almérus, labor market analyst in the press release.

Long-term jobless big challenge

According to the Employment Service, the biggest challenge in the coming years is the rising long-term unemployment, as the number of people who have been unemployed for more than twelve months is increasing.

The forecast is based on interviews with more than 9,000 private employers in the country.