STOCKHOLM - Employment
Employment
Of the total population, 67% are of employable age, i.e. between 15 and 64 years old, in 2001.
In 2001 the employment rate reached 79.3% after three years of increase (1997: 73.6%). The unemployment rate is 2.7%, the lowest one observed during the range of years 1995-2001.
The unemployment rate among young people has, however, been high everywhere in the region until the late 1990's when it began to decrease. This rate was 15.4% in 1996 but only 4.4% in 2001.
More people are employed in the service sector (84% of the total employment of the region) compared to the national average (73%). Hence, fewer people are employed in the industrial and agricultural sectors compared to other Swedish regions.
Industrial employment has increased slightly since 1995 with another 3400 jobs being created in this important sector, leading to a total of 147 400 in 1999. In the last three years, however, the sector has decreased rapidly to 95 000 jobs.
Commuting across municipal boundaries has increased considerably. The main commuter target is the municipality of Stockholm. About 285 000 people commute to the capital every day. The municipality of Stockholm has the largest net positive commuting in the region. A large number of commuters come from municipalities in the neighbouring region of East-Central Sweden.
Of the 983 000 people with jobs in 2001, more than 850 000 also lived in the region. There were 82 000 people commuting into the region and 24 000 out of the region.
Labour force demand on the increase
Before 1990-91 there was a general shortage of labour in the region but later there was an over-supply of labour until 1997. Since then, a gradual reduction occurred. In 2001, the unemployment concerned 2.7% of Stockholm's workforce.
The number of long-term unemployed has varied over the years in accordance with the economic cycle. Its most recent high was in 1998 when the rate was 35%, while the figure for 2001 was 11%.
The service sector - destined to be the most important in the region
For a long time, the service sector has been increasing its share of total employment. Furthermore, an increasing number of women have been employed and their share of total employment was very close to 50% in 2001. Many work in the health and social service sectors.
The proportion of the working population which is employed in industry fell below 30% in 1970, and was about 10% in 2001. The vast majority (81%) of the economically active are employed in the service sector (both private and public). As the central government administration is located in Stockholm, the many civil servants contribute a great deal to this sector.
An important facet of the employment sector is the prevalence of high-technology industries and research institutions in which many university-trained people are occupied.
Schools and universities employ many people, together with government departments (both public and municipal services) at local, regional and central levels. Trained people often find employment in the region, which is the most multifunctional of all regions in Sweden.
High regional incomes
The average hourly wages for workers in the dominating branches of industry do not differ from those in other regions.
Distributive and retail trade firms employ a lot of people. In this sector, however, wages and salaries are generally lower than in other branches. Women's wages are generally slightly lower than those of men.
Disposable income at both current and constant prices has always been higher in Stockholm than in the other regions of Sweden. This is still the case today.
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