Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Sweden
Capital
Stockholm
Currency
Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages
Swedish, English
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$56,415.60
Employer Tax
31.42%
Talent Overview
Sweden has the most progressive economy for a highly developed export-oriented economy, contributed by timber, iron ore, and hydropower. They hold the 8th rank out of 45 in Europe for economic growth. The country followed a global pattern for the development of its economic statistics.
Major economic hubs:
Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö
Skills in demand:
Construction, Engineering, Healthcare specialists, IT Specialists
Local Universities
The top local universities in Sweden are as follows:
Local: 1
World : 178
Local: 2
World : 179
Local: 3
World : 194
Local: 4
World : 222
Local: 5
World : 265
Salary Data
The following table provides the average salary data in Sweden:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (SEK) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| Financial Manager | 93,600 SEK | 9,146 USD |
| General Manager | 84,900 SEK | 8,297 USD |
| Business Development Manager | 72,800 SEK | 7,114 USD |
| Project Manager | 51,700 SEK | 5,052 USD |
| Business Analyst | 59,800 SEK | 5,844 USD |
| Financial Analyst | 57,500 SEK | 5,619 USD |
| Office Manager | 40,000 SEK | 3,909 USD |
To onboard employees from Sweden, the employer should be knowledgeable about the Employment terms, Labor laws, deductions, and benefits. This section has all the necessary information that employers can use.
The employer has to provide the employee with a written employment contract. According to Swedish laws, the contract must contain all the terms and conditions and the employer’s information. There is no statutory language preferred in Sweden’s employment contract. Employers must ensure that the contracts are in a language that is understood by all of the parties involved.
The probation period in Sweden will be based on the collective agreement.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Public holiday |
| 6 Jan | Epiphany | Public holiday |
| 29 Mar | Good Friday | Public holiday |
| 31 Mar | Easter Sunday | Public holiday |
| 1 Apr | Easter Monday | Public holiday |
| 1 May | May 1st | Public holiday |
| 9 May | Ascension Day | Public holiday |
| 18 May | Whit Saturday | De facto holiday |
| 19 May | Whit Sunday | Public holiday |
| 6 Jun | National day | Public holiday |
| 21 Jun | Midsummer Eve | De facto and Bank holiday |
| 22 Jun | Midsummer Day | Public holiday |
| 2 Nov | All Saints’ Day | Public holiday |
| 24 Dec | Christmas Eve | De facto holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public holiday |
| 26 Dec | Boxing Day | Public holiday |
| 31 Dec | New Year’s Eve | De facto and Bank holiday |
| Type of Leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual/Earned Leave | 25 days | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 14 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 14 weeks | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
The employee in Sweden must be paid monthly.
Minimum Wage
The new minimum salary, effective October 1, 2023 will be SEK 22,203 per month. For employees with secondary education, the minimum wage will be SEK 24,456.
Overtime Pay
Employees are allowed to work for a maximum of 50 hours of overtime in a month and the employee is usually paid at a rate of 50% to 100%.
Bonus
There is no specific provision for a 13th-month salary in Sweden.
Taxes
| Category | Contributions |
| Social Security | 31.42% |
| Category | Contributions |
| Pension | 7% (up to SEK 40,100) |
| Annual Taxable | National Income Tax | Municipal Income Tax |
| From 0 to 540,700 | 0 | 32% |
| Over 540,700 | 20% | 32% |
The standard VAT rate in Sweden is between 6% and 25%.
Offboarding & Termination
A notice may or may not be given when terminating an employee in Sweden. However, employers must have a clear and justifiable basis for making the decision.
The Notice Period in Sweden will be up to 6 months.
There are no provisions regarding severance pay in Sweden. However, employees may receive severance pay if it is indicated in their employment agreement with their employers upon onboarding.
Visa and Immigration
There are seven types of Swedish work visas that foreign employees may apply for based on the purpose and duration of their employment. Below are the following:
