Nearly 355,000 people in Sweden were registered as unemployed at the end of March, a decrease of just over 86,000 people from the same month last year.

Unemployment thus amounts to 7.0, which is the lowest figure since September 2019.

- In recent months, we have seen that there is a good labor market and it is clear that there is a pent-up need for the pandemic as well, so now we see the result of it starting to start again, says Anders Ljungberg, acting head of analysis.

The number of newly registered vacancies in Platsbanken at the Swedish Public Employment Service was just over 207,000 in March, which is a record in modern times, according to Ljungberg.

- Among the large areas that are currently recruiting are financial activities, such as banking services and the like, but also in healthcare and care and trade.

The war in Ukraine

How the war in Ukraine may affect the Swedish labor market and economy is still unclear, and depends largely on how protracted the war will be, how many will come to Sweden and how long they choose to stay, says Ljungberg.

- But what is positive is that there is a good demand for labor.

Few Ukrainians have so far registered with the Swedish Public Employment Service, but the authority notes that many who come seem to have a good education in principle.

- We also believe that they are quite good at English, and then you have quite good opportunities in the Swedish labor market.

To help Ukrainians get jobs, the authority will partly focus on mapping the skills of those who come, and partly try to create meetings between employers and jobseekers.

Orosmoln

One of the few major clouds of concern in the report for March is that the number who have been without work for two years or more increases by almost 6,000 people, to almost 99,000. The development during the pandemic may have made it even more difficult for this group, Anders Ljungberg believes.

- We are becoming more digital, working more automated and making demands on other skills.

Then there is a risk that you end up a little further down the queue and lose skills and experience.

To get that group to work, Ljungberg emphasizes the importance of a completed upper secondary education.

The authority then tries to supplement with initiatives such as labor market training, internships and subsidized employment.