Work–life balance

Work hours and holidays

Statistically, employees in Sweden work around 1,441 hours per year on average, which is about 18 per cent less than the OECD average. Meanwhile, the country's productivity compares well with that of the other countries in the EU.

Employees in Sweden are entitled to at least 25 days of holiday per year, excluding public holidays. These aren’t company perks – the days are guaranteed by law.

Swedish labour law also regulates working hours: the standard workweek is capped at 40 hours, with overtime limited by collective agreements and well-established rules on compensation.

A flexible work life

Flexibility is a key part of Swedish work culture, especially when it comes to remote work, which is possible for many professions. Flexible schedules and hybrid work have long been common in Sweden, even before the Covid-19 pandemic.

This approach – both in the public sector and private companies – reflects the trust in employees to manage their time and focus on results rather than clocking in the hours for show.

And equally important, remote work is doable – practically speaking. As one of the world’s most digitally advanced countries, with widespread high-speed internet access, Sweden boasts a strong tech infrastructure that supports seamless remote work and digital collaboration.

An informal work culture

Sweden has work hierarchies too, but the working culture emphasizes open dialogue and equal participation. Employees are encouraged to raise ideas and questions – regardless of job title.

And you don’t have to dress to impress, unless that’s your thing. The dress code at work is generally quite relaxed in Sweden. As long as you show up clean and presentable, you won’t have to obsess about whether your shirt is ironed to perfection or your leather shoes are in flawless condition.

There are, of course, a few sectors where suits are standard – in law, in finance and in certain consulting roles, to name a few.

The social safety net

Should you become seriously ill, Sweden’s social safety net provides support to help you manage. The welfare model ensures access to healthcare, financial assistance and rehabilitation when needed.

If illness or injury prevents you from working, your employer pays sick pay for the first two weeks, except for the first day of absence, which is unpaid.

After that, compensation is provided through the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan). The system also offers support for recovery and a gradual return to work. Employees are protected by a comprehensive social insurance system.

Medical treatments come at reasonable costs for the patient, as the bulk of the Swedish healthcare system is tax-financed.

The Swedish welfare model is based on everyone living and working in Sweden paying taxes – revenues that are used to fund shared services and social security systems.

Equal opportunities

Everyone, regardless of gender, should have the right to work and support themselves, as well as to balance career and family life. That’s the Swedish stance, in short.

Sweden has a long history of policies with the goal of getting both men and women – in other words, as many people as possible – into the workforce to increase not only gender equality, but also the country’s growth.

Back in 1974, the country became the world’s first to replace gender-specific maternity leave with parental leave, i.e. the possibility for both parents to stay at home with their children – and, subsequently, for both parents to pursue a career.

Today, the Swedish parental insurance entitles parents to 480 days of paid parental leave when a child is born or adopted. Each parent – should they be two – is entitled to 240 of those days. Today, fathers in Sweden average about 30 per cent of the paid parental leave.

Childcare and schooling

For working parents, Sweden offers strong support from an early stage. From the day a child turns one, they are entitled to a place in nursery school at a modest fee. Most children attend until the autumn of the year they turn six, when compulsory school begins.

The effect of affordable childcare is that most parents in Sweden choose to enrol their children in nursery school and go back to work after their parental leave.

School for children aged 6 to 19 – from ‘preschool class’ (förskoleklass) to upper secondary school/sixth form/high school – is fully tax-financed, most often including lunches. For children between 6 and 16, schooling is compulsory.

If you work in Sweden and need to take days off to care for a sick child, there is compensation through the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), which is available for parents with children under 12 years of age.

English takes you quite far

In Sweden, English is widely used both in academic and professional contexts – STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) not the least.

Swedes are generally good at English and rarely insist on using Swedish in international settings. This makes it easier for international specialists to contribute from day one at Swedish companies or in academia.

There are, of course, jobs where fluent Swedish is required from day one, such as hospital jobs and most school-teaching positions, naming the most obvious examples.

Also, on a wider note, learning Swedish opens the door to a much richer everyday life. It helps you connect more deeply with colleagues, get a sense of the local rhythm, and feel part of the social fabric rather than a visitor passing through.

Even a basic grasp of the language will make daily life feel more natural and rewarding, whether it’s interacting with others over coffee or reading the local news.