Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish Public Employment Service) helps people looking for work connect with employers, find suitable jobs and access employment support and programmes.
Whether you can register and what support you can receive depends on your situation. For internationals, it can be one of several useful routes into the Swedish job market, alongside direct applications, professional networks, recruitment agencies and job platforms.
Arbetsförmedlingen is part of Sweden’s public employment system and can offer support, guidance and access to employment programmes depending on your situation.
If you are unemployed, newly arrived, changing career or finding it difficult to get your experience recognised in the local job market, it is worth knowing what Arbetsförmedlingen can — and cannot — help with. This article explains who the service is for, how registration works, what support may be available and how it fits alongside your own job search and unemployment insurance.
Arbetsförmedlingen is a government agency responsible for employment services in Sweden.
Its main role is to:
For internationals, it is especially important because many entry programmes into the Swedish job market require registration with Arbetsförmedlingen.
Arbetsförmedlingen is open to:
It is particularly useful for:
Arbetsförmedlingen provides a large database of job vacancies across Sweden.
These listings include:
On your first day of unemployment, register online as a job seeker to begin the process (this affects your ability to receive benefits and access programmes). then start exploring job listings via platsbanken (Arbetsförmedlingen's official job portal)
Depending on your situation, you may qualify for:
The financial support associated with Arbetsförmedlingen programmes is actually paid out by Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Agency) rather than Arbetsförmedlingen directly.
Depending on your situation, Arbetsförmedlingen may be able to offer or refer you to different forms of employment support and programmes. These can include training, career guidance, validation of skills, work placements and matching services. Eligibility is assessed based on your circumstances and the requirements of the particular programme.
Some programmes are delivered by other organisations in partnership with or on behalf of Arbetsförmedlingen. For example, Korta vägen is a preparatory programme for academics that is delivered by education providers on behalf of Arbetsförmedlingen, while Jobbsprånget is a separate internship programme for foreign-born academics in which Arbetsförmedlingen plays a role in checking eligibility.
If you are interested in a particular programme, check its current eligibility requirements and how applications are handled rather than assuming that registration with Arbetsförmedlingen automatically gives you access.
To access Sweden’s job services, you must first formally declare to Arbetsförmedlingen that you are, in fact, looking for work.
The process is designed to be simple, provided you already possess a personnummer (digital ID):
☐ Create an account on Arbetsförmedlingen's website.
☐ Login using BankID or a similar digital identity system.
☐ Register as a job seeker, thereby officially entering the Swedish labour market ecosystem.
☐ Submit details about your background, education and work experience (ideally in chronological order, though existential order is also accepted).
☐ Depending on your individual situation, you may meet a case officer — either digitally or in person — to confirm that you are actively seeking employment.
Once registered, you will be issued a personal action plan — a carefully structured document outlining how Sweden intends to help you find a job, assuming you follow instructions, attend meetings, and continue existing in a job-seeking capacity.
When registered, you are expected to:
Failing to meet these requirements may affect access to financial support.
While useful, Arbetsförmedlingen has some limitations, such as:
↗︎ Official website of Arbetsförmedlingen
↗︎ Work permits for employees — Migrationsverket
↗︎ Working in Sweden — official Government information
Learn all about the unemployment benefit: a-kassa
Read all about Försäkringskassan: benefits and social insurance
No, registering is generally optional. However, it becomes mandatory if you need to register as a jobseeker to claim unemployment insurance (A-kassa) or if you are participating in state-backed integration programmes.
Not directly. They provide tools like Platsbanken, guidance, and matching services, but you are expected to conduct an active job search and apply for positions independently.
Primarily, yes. However, certain guidance tools, labor market forecasts, and self-service career resources are open to anyone exploring options in the Swedish labor market.
Not always. While some digital self-service tools and resources offer English translations or support, navigating the broader system and finding employment significantly depends on your level of Swedish.
Yes, as long as you legally reside in Sweden with a valid residence or work permit. To fully register and access their digital matching tools, you will typically need a Swedish personnummer and BankID.