Popular Job Sectors in Sweden 2025: Highest Employing Sectors & Top Companies
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Popular Job Sectors in Sweden 2025: Highest Employing Sectors & Top Companies

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Jan 17, 2025 15:38 IST

After graduating from Swedish universities, are you planning to work in Sweden? Check out some of the popular job sectors in Sweden and get insights on the highest employing sectors of Sweden through this article. ALso understand the economic trends about job market in Swden and then choose the right job sector to work in Sweden. 

popular job sectors in sweden

Sweden is the global leader in terms of having a healthy job market, and it offers a high standard of living and strong workers' rights for both citizens and foreign nationals alike. For international students, remaining in Sweden after graduation is the most common way to secure a job. The second most popular way to get a job is to apply to an MNC from your home country. With good economic growth, working in Sweden after studying in Sweden is definitely a good option for international students. Check out about the popular job sectors in Sweden along with other essential details in the article.  

Popular Job Sectors in Sweden

Expected Growth in Sweden's Job Sector 

0.58% in 2025

Number of Open Vacancies by 2025

500,000+

Top Recruiting Sectors 

Engineering & Manufacturing

Common Job Sectors 

Finance, Manufacturing, Travel, Education, etc.

Top 2 Swedish Industries 

Engineering & Financial Services 

Average Annual Salary

SEK 481,200

Top 10 Popular Job Sectors in Sweden

Those looking forward to working in Sweden can take a look at the most popular job sectors in Sweden based on Statista in the table below:

Top Job Sectors in Sweden Number of Employers Working in the Sector (2023)
Financial Operations, Business Services 975.5k
Human Health & Social Activities 756.6k
Education 598.9k
Manufacturing, Mining & Quarrying, Energy & Environment  580.8k
Trade 523.7k
Public Administration 415.9k
Construction 321.5k
Information & Communication 315.1k
Manufacturing of Metal Products, Machinery & Equipments 286.1k
Personal & Cultural Services 257.2k
Transport 221.2k

Thus, looking at the employment data in Sweden across different job sectors, it can be concluded that Financial Services, Health & Social Services, Education, Manufacturing, Trade and Public Admin are some of the highest employing sectors in Sweden. 

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Those interested in these areas of study can look for courses around them and gain hands-on-experience while interning or upon getting a full-time job role. 

Why Work in Sweden after Graduation?

The year 2025, is a good time to work in Sweden reasons being:








  • Sweden is one of the steadily growing economies in Europe and the expected economic growth in Sweden is expected to be 1.8% in 2025.
  • The employment rate will also grow over time and the bridging of the 8% is on the cards by 2026.
  • Some of the popular MNCs are headquartered in Sweden, hence, international students can either take up part-time jobs in Sweden while studying or apply for a full-time job after graduating from Swedish universities. 
  • Annual average salary in Sweden is SEK 481,200 which equals to INR 37,33,030 approximately. This is just an estimate and salaries can go up based on job role and skills of the applicants after studying from universities of Sweden.
  • Also, upon getting a job in Sweden, applicants can easily get a post study work permit in Sweden and also get permanent residence opportunity. 

Thus, there are positive points only for studying in Swedish universities and then getting a job opportunity there. 

Popular Jobs FIelds in Sweden for International Students

Swedish government combines a capitalist economy with the public sector and the welfare system. There is always a demand for skilled workers. The service industry has the most potential along with the following sectors:







  • Management, consulting, finance - Stockholm is the country’s financial centre with head offices of many multinational banks as well as Scandinavia’s largest stock exchange. 
  • Clean-tech sector and Automotive industry - Big vehicle manufacturers like Volvo and Scania are Swedish companies. Saab, a Swedish automobile company was bought by National Electric Vehicle Sweden. Since Sweden is the pioneer country for the advancement of clean technologies and eco-friendly applications, those experienced and knowledgeable in the field of developing or manufacturing greener vehicles will find great career opportunities here.  
  • Information technology - With companies like Sony Ericsson and Skype, Sweden has a lot to offer in the field of IT.
  • Tourism - The fastest growing sector in the tourism industry. Sweden is among the most popular tourist destinations across the world. Once you have visited Sweden at least once, you will understand why the tourism industry in the country is thriving with its variety of cities and beautiful natural scenery to admire.
  • Teaching and education – You need a strong background in the education industry to be qualified for a teaching job. Since this is a regulated job, you will need to fulfil the minimum criteria and then contact the relevant authority to apply for the right to practice.
  • Healthcare – Healthcare is an attractive industry for foreign students, but before you start looking at nurse and dentist jobs, make sure to receive your license certification and professional status. For this will have to contact the responsible authorities. With this approval, your employer is assured that you have received the required training and education to work in the field. Approximately 40 professions are regulated like this in Sweden, with a majority from the healthcare sector. The main requirements to gain approval are a sufficient educational background and prior work experience.

In Sweden, the best thing is that language is never a barrier to employment. Everyone speaks fluent English, so you will never have communication problems. The nation has steadily built up a reputation for aiding start-up businesses over the years. Those who find work in Sweden, get to take their career to the next level and they also enjoy the accessible society with subsidized public services. Plus everyone in the country has an impressive amount of holiday entitlement, so that is an exciting bonus!

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Top 10 Companies to Work in Sweden

Sweden is the home ground of several popular multinational companies, like -

  1. Ericsson
  2. IKEA
  3. H&M
  4. Microsoft
  5. Saab Automobile
  6. Spotify
  7. AstraZeneca
  8. Electrolux Appliances
  9. Volvo
  10. Skype

These are just a few MNCs that are headquartered in Seden and international applicants can grab the opportunity to work in these companies. There are many other as well, applicants can search for their preferred ones and apply to work there. 

Got more queries about the popular job sectors in Sweden? Write to us in the comments section below. 

Q:   Is it hard to get into KTH Sweden?

A:

For international students, getting admission into KTH Royal Institute of Technology is moderately difficult. KTH Royal Institute of Technology has an acceptance rate of 32% for Masters programs and merely 7% for bachelor's program. This figure indicates that on an average, only 32 out of 100 applicants get admitted into KTH for pursuing a postgraduate course, whereas only 7 secure an admission in the undergraduate course. Currently, international students comprise 30% of the total student population (13,500) of KTH. Aspirants interested in studying at KTH, need to have a minimum academic score of above 60% and an IELTS score of 6.5. 

Q:   Is Sweden expensive for Indian students?

A:

Sweden is generally very expensive to live. The cost of living in Sweden is very high in comparison to other European countries. Below we have given the average cost of living in Sweden.

Particulars

Expenses

Accommodation

345 – 670 EUR/month

Food

440 EUR/month

Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)

76 EUR/month

Internet

28 EUR/month

Swedish Restaurant

11 - 23 EUR

3-Course Meal

47 - 76 EUR

Drink in a Bar

9 EUR

Books and other study materials

80 EUR/month

Social activities and entertainment

70 – 100 EUR/month

Health insurance

start at 30 EUR/month

Public transportation fares

77 EUR/month

Bicycle for transport

110 EUR

Q:   How can I get a study visa for Sweden?

A:

Study visa for Sweden has been broadly divided into two different types of visas a person can apply for when planning to go to Sweden. A person intending to travel to Sweden for recreational purposes would apply for a Schengen Visa. This is essentially a visa that is valid for three months. Since all visa applications are sent to Sweden, the student visa is processed in about 90 days. However, it might take longer and you are advised to start the process as soon as possible.

Q:   What are the top 5 universities of Sweden?

A:

Sweden has some of the best universities in the world. Here we have listed top 5 universities in Sweden as per the QS world university rankings for 2024. 

University

QS World University Rankings 2024

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

#73

Lund University

#85

Uppsala University

#105

Stockholm University

#118

Chalmers University of Technology

#129

Q:   How many universities are in Sweden?

A:

In total, there are just 39 universities in the whole of Sweden. Here we have listed all the 39 universities in Sweden.

Universities in Sweden

Blekinge Institute of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology

Dalarna University

Halmstad University

Johannelund School of Theology

Jonkoping University

Karlstad University

Karolinska Institute

Konstfack, University of Arts, Crafts and Design

Kristianstad University

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Linkoping University

Linnaeus University

Lulea University of Technology

Lund University

Malardalen University

Malmo University

Marie Cederschiold University

Mid Sweden University

The Newman Institute

Orebro University

Royal College of Music

Royal Institute of Art

Sodertorn University of Stockholm

Sophiahemmet University

Stockholm School of Economics

Stockholm University

Stockholm University of the Arts

Swedish Defence University

Swedish Red Cross University

The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Umea University

University of Boras

University College Stockholm

University of Gavle

University of Gothenburg

University of Skovde

University West

Uppsala University

Q:   What is the cost of study visa in Sweden?

A:

Sweden Study Visa fee for Residence Permit for Study purposes for Sweden is SEK 1,500 at the current exchange rate. Students are required to make an online payment for the same by using a Visa or a MasterCard. (Both Credit and Bank/Debit Cards are acceptable).

Q:   How can I get PR in Sweden after studying?

A:

Getting Permanent Residency (PR) in Sweden is a bit complicated. Completing graduation in Sweden generally do not lead to PR. However, student permit for PhD generally lead to permanent residency. After completing graduation international students need to continuously seek for employment.

Q:   What is the ranking of Linkoping University in Sweden?

A:

Linkoping University ranking is among the top 10 universities in Sweden. According to Linkoping University QS ranking¸ the university ranks at 7th position in the country.

About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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Reviewed by
Chandra
MBA, MS & UG in Europe

Chandra has been mentoring students for the past seven years and has expertise in overseas counseling for those applying to Sweden, Germany, France, and Ireland. He is a people person and enjoys interacting with peo... Read Full Bio

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Comments

(1)

what will be the starting salary after completing masters in supply chain management at chalmer's university?

Reply to karthik venkatesh s

R

Rahul Singha

3 years ago

Hello Karthik. The salary would depend on your overall academic profile and performance in your university. It would be technically incorrect for me to give you a figure without being privy to such details. (contd)

R

Rahul Singha

3 years ago

You can get in touch with our counsellors here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply to better understand the nuances of studying abroad, ROI and what to expect after successful graduation.