Sweden Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Sweden's industry employment was 16.82% in 2025, ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Sweden's industry employment stood at 16.82% in 2025, a decline of +0.20% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 16.46% by 2026. Sweden ranked 63rd globally.
Sweden’s share of the labour force employed in industry has fallen sharply over the 35‑year span covered by World Bank data, declining from an all‑time peak of 27.26 percent in 1991 to a trough of 16.82 percent in 2025, placing the country 63rd globally. The contraction reflects a long‑standing shift toward services and high‑tech sectors, a pattern echoed in other advanced economies that have reduced manufacturing’s share of employment. By 2025 Sweden’s industry employment rate is marginally higher than Peru’s 16.79 percent and Nicaragua’s 16.88 percent, yet still below Cuba’s 16.91 percent, underscoring the depth of the transition. Continued investment in automation, green technologies and skilled‑labour development could modestly stabilise the decline, but without a resurgence in manufacturing or a re‑orientation toward industrial value‑added activities the downward trajectory is likely to persist.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 15.92% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 16.19% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 16.46% | - | - |
| 2025 | 16.82% | −0.20% | #63 |
| 2024 | 17.02% | −0.26% | #67 |
| 2023 | 17.28% | +0.09% | #71 |
| 2022 | 17.20% | −0.91% | #70 |
| 2021 | 18.10% | −0.21% | #82 |
| 2020 | 18.31% | −0.11% | #82 |
| 2019 | 18.42% | +0.24% | #82 |
| 2018 | 18.18% | +0.01% | #81 |
| 2017 | 18.16% | −0.04% | #82 |
| 2016 | 18.20% | −0.09% | #81 |
| 2015 | 18.29% | −0.32% | #81 |
| 2014 | 18.60% | −0.56% | #82 |
| 2013 | 19.16% | −0.48% | #88 |
| 2012 | 19.64% | −0.28% | #92 |
| 2011 | 19.93% | +0.02% | #95 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sweden matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sweden's industry employment was 16.82% in 2025. Ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from the previous year.
Sweden's industry employment peaked at 27.26% in 1991.
The lowest industry employment in Sweden was 16.82% in 2025.
Sweden ranks 63rd globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sweden's industry employment is projected to reach 16.46% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Sweden in 2025 was 16.82%. This ranks 63rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sweden_industry-employment,
title = {Sweden Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sweden/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}