Decrease of job opportunities

The second quarter of 2025 saw a decline in job openings with a 13 percent decrease compared to the same period the previous year. The labor market recorded a total of 147,500 job openings, out of which 113,800 were advertised, and 33,700 were openings where employers sought recruitment through other means.

Out of the job openings, 92,800 were immediate vacancies that employers wanted to fill, while there were 115,100 job vacancies excluding substitutes. The business sector accounted for 114,400 job openings, while public administration had 28,700 openings, with 6,200 in central government, 6,300 in municipalities, and 16,300 in county councils. Human health and social work establishments emerged as the industry with the highest number of job openings due to its size.

In terms of job openings relative to the number of employees within each industry, administrative and support service companies had the most vacancies. Geographically, more than half of the job openings were concentrated in urban areas like Stockholm, Västra Götaland, and Skåne. However, Västernorrland county stood out with the highest number of job openings per employment.

“Job Openings and Recruitment Needs” is a recent survey that has replaced previous surveys such as Job Openings and Unmet Labor Demand, Labour Market Tendency Survey, and Labour Market Outlook Survey. This new survey provides insights into job openings, recruitment challenges, and skills in demand, contributing to economic analysis and forecasting. It is also a component of European Labor Market statistics on Businesses.

There are notable differences between the new survey and its predecessor, Job Openings and Unmet Labor Demand, which was the foundation for official job vacancy statistics until the first quarter of 2024. Therefore, caution is advised when comparing data over time. The statistics include seasonally adjusted values for total job openings and present both adjusted and unadjusted time series in the same table.

Since the statistics are derived from a sample survey, there may be selection bias, and the margin of error associated with each statistical value is presented for accuracy and transparency.

The next publication for this statistical news is scheduled for Thursday, November 27th. While the information from this statistical news can be utilized, it is important to cite the source as Statistics Sweden for accuracy and credibility.