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Swedish construction layoffs drop 52 percent

29/01/2026, 16:32

The Swedish construction industry recorded 52 percent fewer layoffs in Q4 2025 as the job market begins to recover. New job postings also increased 26 percent year-on-year.

Layoff notices in Sweden’s construction industry fell sharply during the fourth quarter of 2025.

A total of 1,138 employees received redundancy warnings, representing a 52 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

Johan Deremar, chief economist at Swedish Construction Federation (Byggföretagen), says the labour market outlook is brightening.

– The employment prospects within the construction industry are starting to improve, he states.

The positive trends extend beyond fewer layoffs. New job postings are also on the rise.

New job listings surge

The number of newly advertised positions with the Swedish Public Employment Service increased 26 percent year-on-year during the quarter.

– The fact that construction jobs are now increasing is a prerequisite for unemployment to continue falling in 2026, says Deremar.

Unemployment among construction workers’ unemployment insurance fund members stood at 4.6 percent during the fourth quarter. That’s just over one percentage point lower than the same period in 2024.

According to Byggföretagen, employment in construction and civil engineering will increase by 1,200 people to 369,500 during the 2025-2026 forecast period.