Today, more people go from unemployment to work than the number who register at the Swedish Public Employment Service, Minister of Labor Eva Nordmark (S) announces at a press briefing.
At the same time, there are large regional differences in the country.
Södermanland, Gävleborg, Skåne and Västmanland, for example, have an unemployment rate of over ten percent.
Västerbotten has Sweden's lowest unemployment rate at just over six percent.
Increased long-term unemployment
Long-term unemployment is another cloud of unrest before the government.
Regions where unemployment is high also have a high proportion who have been unemployed for twelve months or longer.
- Long-term unemployment is increasing, it is expected to continue to increase according to the Swedish Public Employment Service's assessment during this year, says Eva Nordmark.
However, she points out that the number in the group who risk ending up in long-term unemployment, those who have been unemployed for between six and twelve months, now seems to be declining somewhat.
Vaccine can give ketchup effect
As more and more Swedes are vaccinated against covid-19, Minister of Labor Eva Nordmark believes that the situation can brighten further in the labor market.
Many people are eager to go to football, concerts and later to hang out at bars and restaurants.
As the restrictions are eased, companies are also preparing to hire more people, according to the Minister of Labor.
- When it happens, I am quite convinced that there will be a ketchup effect because then many people will also need to be employed in these businesses, she says.