- It is basically going well now, the companies are hiring staff, but it is a two-part picture we see with many long-term unemployed, says Annika Sundén, head of analysis at the Swedish Public Employment Service.

At the end of September, 388,000 people were registered with the Swedish Public Employment Service.

This is a decrease of 77,000 people compared to the same month last year, from a historically high 9.0 percent to 7.5 percent in one year.

There are twice as many job vacancies as in September a year ago.

With so many unemployed, it should be easy to fill the gaps.

But many employers have a hard time finding the right person, according to the Swedish Public Employment Service.

For example, there is a shortage of chefs, engineers and assistant nurses.

Change industry

One explanation for the shortcomings may be that experienced people who were laid off during the pandemic have found a job in another industry.

- Employers compete for the same well-educated workforce.

One third of the unemployed do not have a high school education and many also lack sufficient Swedish, says Annika Sundén, head of analysis at the Swedish Public Employment Service.

But employers also have a responsibility to get people into work, the Swedish Public Employment Service thinks.

- As an employer, it can be good to review your list of requirements.

You might have to think about whether it is not possible to hire someone with short experience or a little worse Swedish, says Annika Sundén.

Double bang

Meanwhile, the number of long-term unemployed, who have been without work for a year or more, is increasing.

As many as 186,000 people were long-term unemployed in September.

That is 15,000 more than in September a year ago.

Just over half were born in a country outside Europe, but more and more natives are coming - for example, people who worked in stores but were hit by a double whammy from the pandemic and the increased e-commerce.

- Long-term unemployment is about to take hold at a higher level.

Before the pandemic, it was a little over 150,000, now it is 186,000.