Swedish job market boosted by record vacancies
The upturn in Sweden's job market is continuing across most parts of the country, according to new figures from the Swedish Employment Service (AMS). During September there were 56,000 new vacancies - an increase on a scale that has not been seen in Sweden for several decades, said AMS.
Open unemployment - the number of people registered with the nation's job centres - was 197,000 people, or 4.2 percent of the working population.
That represents a fall of 39,000 compared to September 2005. In August the open unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.
At the same time, however, a further 144,000 people in Sweden, or 3.1 percent, are in government-run labour schemes - an increase of 23,000 compared to last September and 11,000 more than in August.
The head of AMS, Bo Bylund, said that there is a clear decline in unemployment:
"A growing number of unemployed people are getting jobs. With the strong economic situation we are expecting a continued fall in joblessness," he wrote in a commentary to the figures.
The fall in unemployment is most significant among men. 12,000 fewer men are now unemployed or in labour schemes than at the same time last year. However, among men aged 18-24, 64,000 are still unemployed or on work schemes.
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Open unemployment - the number of people registered with the nation's job centres - was 197,000 people, or 4.2 percent of the working population.
That represents a fall of 39,000 compared to September 2005. In August the open unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.
At the same time, however, a further 144,000 people in Sweden, or 3.1 percent, are in government-run labour schemes - an increase of 23,000 compared to last September and 11,000 more than in August.
The head of AMS, Bo Bylund, said that there is a clear decline in unemployment:
"A growing number of unemployed people are getting jobs. With the strong economic situation we are expecting a continued fall in joblessness," he wrote in a commentary to the figures.
The fall in unemployment is most significant among men. 12,000 fewer men are now unemployed or in labour schemes than at the same time last year. However, among men aged 18-24, 64,000 are still unemployed or on work schemes.
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