Since 2009 and 2010, respectively, employment rates among men and women in Sweden increased steadily until the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, when it fell for both genders. The fall was more steep for women than men. In 2023, the employment rate for men was nearly 72 percent, whereas it was 67 percent for women. The total employment rate in the country was 69 percent.
The income gap
Even though the employment rate was higher for men than for women for all years in the period, Sweden was still among the countries with the highest female employment rates worldwide. The gap between male and female salaries is also small. In 2022, women’s average earnings as a percentage of men’s was 95 percent, when controlled for occupation, age, education, sector and number of working hours.
Different employment types for men and women
More men than women were permanent employees and self-employed in Sweden, while a higher number of women than men were temporary employees. Around 332,000 men and 403,000 women were temporary employees.
Employment rate in Sweden from 2001 to 2023, by gender
Characteristic
Men
Women
2023
71.8%
67%
2022
71.8%
66%
2021
70.1%
64.4%
2020
69.8%
64.5%
2019
70.5%
66.1%
2018
70.3%
66.2%
2017
69.9%
65.7%
2016
69%
65.1%
2015
68.8%
64.4%
2014
68.6%
63.8%
2013
68.2%
63.3%
2012
67.9%
63%
2011
68.1%
62.6%
2010
67.4%
61.4%
2009
67.1%
62.2%
2008
69.6%
63.8%
2007
69.5%
63.9%
2006
68.6%
63%
2005
67.9%
62.6%
2004
67.8%
63.2%
2003
68.5%
64%
2002
69.3%
64.5%
2001
69.6%
64.5%
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Statistics Sweden. (April 24, 2024). Employment rate in Sweden from 2001 to 2023, by gender [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 16, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/527197/sweden-employment-rate-by-gender/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Statistics Sweden. "Employment rate in Sweden from 2001 to 2023, by gender." Chart. April 24, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 16, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/527197/sweden-employment-rate-by-gender/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Statistics Sweden. (2024). Employment rate in Sweden from 2001 to 2023, by gender. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 16, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/527197/sweden-employment-rate-by-gender/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Statistics Sweden. "Employment Rate in Sweden from 2001 to 2023, by Gender." Statista, Statista Inc., 24 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/527197/sweden-employment-rate-by-gender/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Statistics Sweden, Employment rate in Sweden from 2001 to 2023, by gender Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/527197/sweden-employment-rate-by-gender/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited February 16, 2025)
Employment rate in Sweden from 2001 to 2023, by gender [Graph], Statistics Sweden, April 24, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/527197/sweden-employment-rate-by-gender/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed