Employment

Overview

Working in Sweden

Sweden has a strong labour market built on collective agreements, flat hierarchies, and work-life balance. The unemployment rate is around 7%.

Unemployment rate

~7.5% (2025)

Average salary

SEK 38,000/month (median)

Standard work week

40 hours

Vacation days

25 days per year (minimum by law)

Contracts

Employment Contracts

Swedish employment law strongly favours employees. Understand the contract types before signing.

Tillsvidareanställning

Permanent contract (standard)

Visstidsanställning

Fixed-term (max 24 months, then converts)

Probation (provanställning)

Max 6 months

Notice period

1–6 months (increases with tenure)

1. Request a written contract before your start date
2. Verify salary, benefits, and pension contributions
3. Check which collective agreement (kollektivavtal) applies
4. Understand your probation terms and notice period
5. Register your tax withholding (jämkning) with Skatteverket if needed

Collective Agreements

Kollektivavtal (Collective Agreements)

About 90% of Swedish workers are covered by a collective agreement. These set minimum terms that are often better than the law.

Coverage

~90% of Swedish workforce

Sets minimum

Salary, pension, overtime, parental leave top-up

Often includes

Extra sick pay, healthcare allowance

No national minimum wage

Sweden relies on collective agreements instead

1. Ask your employer which kollektivavtal applies to you
2. Read the agreement summary (your union can help)
3. Verify your salary meets the agreement's minimum
4. Check if parental leave top-up is included

Vacation

25 Days Vacation

Swedish law guarantees 25 days of paid vacation per year. Many collective agreements offer even more.

Legal minimum

25 days per year

Summer right

4 consecutive weeks June–August

Semestertillägg

Extra 0.43% per day on top of regular pay

Year 1 rule

Unpaid vacation available — paid days earned from April

Carry over

Up to 5 days can roll to next year

1. Discuss vacation planning with your team by March
2. Request your 4-week summer block early
3. Check your vacation balance on your payslip
4. Note that vacation days accrue from April 1 to March 31

Trade Unions

Join a Union

About 70% of Swedish workers are union members. Unions negotiate your salary, provide legal support, and offer unemployment insurance.

Union membership

~70% of Swedish workers

Monthly fee

SEK 200–500 (tax-deductible)

Largest unions

Unionen, IF Metall, Kommunal, Vision

Benefits

Legal support, salary negotiation, a-kassa

Tax deduction

25% of membership fees deductible

1. Identify which union covers your profession
2. Join online (most unions have English-language sign-up)
3. Also join the associated a-kassa for unemployment insurance
4. Contact your union rep (fackligt ombud) at work for questions
5. Claim the tax deduction on your annual tax return