The new figures from the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) also show that 154,373 people were registered as unemployed last week, an increase of 537 people from the week before, and 2,782 more than the same week last year.

The number of people in supported employment fell to 80,534, down 569 from the prior week, and 14,151 fewer than a year ago.

At the same time, 72,198 people participated in employment programmes which qualified them for partial wage-replacement payments, 1,082 than the previous week, and an increase of 12,757 compared to the same week last year.

During the week, 8,931 new positions were announced in Arbetsförmedlingen’s job bank.

While the figure includes 59 more positions than were announced the previous week, it represents a 45 percent drop in the number of new positions announced during the same week one year ago.