Data Sources
3
ILO / WB / OECD coverage
🇸🇪 Europe ·OECD member ·EU member
Sweden
An ILO EPLex composite of 0.484 places Sweden among moderate-protection jurisdictions on the 0-1 scale.
ILO EPLex B-READY 2025 OECD EPL
0.484 ILO EPLex composite (0–1)
Sweden's statutory protection against unfair dismissal is moderate - an ILO EPLex composite of 0.484 on the 0–1 scale, stronger than 75% of the 95 rated countries. Data is compiled from 3 official sources (ILO EPLex, World Bank B-READY 2025, OECD EPL), covering statutory notice periods, severance pay, and dismissal procedures.
Sweden - the verdict
Sweden's statutory protection against unfair dismissal is moderate - an ILO EPLex composite of 0.484 on the 0–1 scale, stronger than 75% of the 95 rated countries.
- 0.484
- ILO EPLex composite (0–1)
- 75th
- percentile, protection
- 2.54/6
- OECD EPL strictness
- 66.6/100
- B-READY labor quality
Sources: ILO EPLex · World Bank B-READY 2025 · OECD EPL. Higher = stronger statutory protection.
How we calculate this percentile
We sort every country with a published ILO EPLex composite score (95 in total) from lowest to highest. Sweden's position in that sorted list gives its percentile: round((countries at or below its score ÷ 95) × 100). A higher percentile means stronger statutory dismissal protection relative to the full 95-country set, not a comparison to any single peer country.
Sweden ranks among the more protective OECD economies, with an overall EPL strictness score of 2.54/6.0, substantially above the OECD average of about 2.0. The ILO EPLex composite (2017) stands at 0.484/1.0. B-READY 2025 labor regulation quality is 66.6/100. Statutory notice rules apply across 7 tenure tiers.
What the Data Shows for Sweden
Europe. Covered by 3/3 tracked datasets. As an OECD member, it is included in the OECD's long-running historical EPL series. EU membership means its labor rules are also shaped by directives on collective redundancies, transfers of undertakings, and fixed-term work. The most recent ILO EPLex composite score is 0.484 out of 1.0 (2017), summarizing statutory termination rules into a single index. B-READY 2025 labor score: 66.6/100, moderate. The OECD EPL overall strictness index is 2.54/6.0, where higher values indicate stricter rules on individual and collective dismissal.
Statutory notice periods in Sweden scale with tenure across 7 tiers, reaching 6 months at 20 years of service. Severance pay can reach 0 months of salary at 20 years, while redundancy-specific pay is 0 months. The maximum probation period allowed by law is 6 months, defining how long employers can assess workers under reduced protection. Dismissal process: fast, ~0.0 weeks. No 3rd-party approval required for individual dismissal.
Formal labor dispute resolution is notably slow, averaging 7.3 months from filing to outcome. A moderate share of firms, 3.3% in the World Bank's survey, report experiencing a labor dispute. Employer social contributions add a comparatively light cost layer, 0.5% of salary. The EPLex redress/reinstatement sub-indicator is 0.563/1.0, reflecting how strong remedies are when a dismissal is ruled unlawful. Historically, Sweden's OECD EPL score moved from 2.64 in 1990 to 2.54 in 2019, showing the direction of reform over time. 6 peer comparisons below.
How to read the three measurement scales
These figures draw on three different measurement traditions, so read each one on its own terms before comparing across countries. The ILO EPLex composite condenses statutory termination rules into a single index from zero to one, where higher numbers mean stronger legal protection against dismissal. The World Bank Business Ready 2025 labor score runs from zero to one hundred and blends the quality of regulation with how well public services and dispute processes actually work in practice. The OECD employment protection index uses a zero to six scale and only covers member economies, but it offers the longest historical series, which makes it the better choice for tracking reform over time. A country can score strictly on paper yet still process dismissals quickly, so always weigh the statutory index against the practical estimates. Where a country appears in fewer than all three datasets, treat the missing measures as not yet collected rather than as a sign of weak protection, and revisit this page when new releases are published because indicators can shift year over year.
Region
Europe
Geographic grouping
Latest Year
2025
Most recent indicator update
Sweden vs. every rated country
Where Sweden's ILO EPLex composite sits among all 95 countries with a composite score.
Sweden - ILO EPLex composite
Worker-protection strength against unfair dismissal (0–1 scale)
0.48 Top 25% higher than 75% of 95 rated countries
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ILO EPLex composite (0–1 scale) · 2017
Sweden EPLex composite 48.4%
Out of a 1.0 maximum. Higher = stronger statutory protection against dismissal.
ILO EPLex (2017)
0.484
out of 1.0 · Rank #25
B-READY 2025
66.6
out of 100 · Rank #49
OECD EPL
2.54
out of 6.0 · Rank #21
ILO EPLex
Termination Protection Breakdown (2017)
Prohibited Grounds for Dismissal 1.000
Probation Period 0.760
Procedural Requirements 0.500
Notice Periods 0.469
Severance Pay 0.000
Redundancy Pay 0.000
Redress / Reinstatement 0.563
Scale: 0 = no protection · 1 = maximum protection. Source: ILO EPLex 2017.
Max probation period: 6 months
Notice Periods by Tenure
| Tenure | Notice Period |
|---|---|
| 6 months | 1 month |
| 9 months | 1 month |
| 2 years | 2 months |
| 4 years | 3 months |
| 5 years | 3 months |
| 10 years | 6 months |
| 20 years | 6 months |
Source: ILO EPLex ILO EPLex Notice period is the legally mandated advance notice before termination
Severance and Redundancy Pay by Tenure
| Tenure | Severance | Redundancy |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 9 months | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 2 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 4 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 5 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 10 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 20 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
Values in salary-months. Source: ILO EPLex. Severance = individual dismissal. Redundancy = collective/economic dismissal.
B-READY 2025
Labor Regulation Quality
Regulation Quality
70.3
out of 100
Public Services
77.8
out of 100
Efficiency
51.8
out of 100
Notice Required
Yes
Severance Required
No
Weeks to Dismiss
0.0
Weeks Severance
3.8
Firms in Disputes
3.3%
Months to Resolve
7.3
Social Contributions
0.5%
3rd Party for Dismissal
Not required
Source: World Bank Business Ready 2025 World Bank Business Ready 2025 Pillar scores are 0-100 (higher = better regulation quality)
OECD EPL
Historical Protection Score
| Year | Overall Score | Visual |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.64 | |
| 1991 | 2.64 | |
| 1992 | 2.64 | |
| 1993 | 2.64 | |
| 1994 | 2.64 | |
| 1995 | 2.64 | |
| 1996 | 2.64 | |
| 1997 | 2.54 | |
| 1998 | 2.54 | |
| 1999 | 2.49 | |
| 2000 | 2.49 | |
| 2001 | 2.49 | |
| 2002 | 2.45 | |
| 2003 | 2.45 | |
| 2004 | 2.45 | |
| 2005 | 2.45 | |
| 2006 | 2.45 | |
| 2007 | 2.45 | |
| 2008 | 2.45 | |
| 2009 | 2.45 | |
| 2010 | 2.45 | |
| 2011 | 2.45 | |
| 2012 | 2.45 | |
| 2013 | 2.54 | |
| 2014 | 2.54 | |
| 2015 | 2.54 | |
| 2016 | 2.54 | |
| 2017 | 2.54 | |
| 2018 | 2.54 | |
| 2019 | 2.54 | |
Scale: 0-6 (higher = more protective). Source: OECD Employment Protection Legislation database.
Compare Sweden With...
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Understanding EPL Scores How OECD, ILO, and B-READY scores are calculated and compared Termination Laws by Country Notice periods, severance, and dismissal rules worldwide Hiring Internationally Legal frameworks for cross-border employment Non-Compete Agreements Enforceability and restrictions across jurisdictions Reading Employment Statistics How to interpret labor market data and indicators Labor Market Trends Workforce analysis and global employment trends
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the employment protections in Sweden?
ILO EPLex termination protection composite score: 0.484/1.0 (2017); World Bank B-READY labor regulation quality: 66.6/100; OECD EPL overall: 2.54/6.0; 7 notice period tiers defined by law; 7 severance/redundancy pay tiers. (3 sources.)
How does Sweden compare to the OECD average?
OECD EPL 2.54/6.0 (above the ~2.3 average).
What notice period and severance pay does Sweden require?
up to 6 months notice (20 years); severance up to 0 months (20 years); notice mandated; severance not mandated.
What data sources cover Sweden's employment laws?
3 sources: ILO EPLex; World Bank B-READY 2025; OECD EPL.
How strict are dismissal protections in Sweden?
EPLex 2017: moderately strict (0.484/1.0); max probation 6mo; 3rd-party approval not required; dismissal ~0.0 weeks.
How does Sweden handle labor disputes?
disputes resolve in ~7.3mo; 3.3% of firms report one; social contributions 0.5% of salary; EPLex redress indicator 0.563/1.0.
What to do with this
Use Sweden's scores as a comparison benchmark, not legal advice.
- Sweden sits above 75% of rated countries on statutory dismissal protection (ILO EPLex 0.484/1.0) - see exactly where it lands among all 95. View the rankings
- The three indices measure different things on different scales, compare Sweden side by side with another country before drawing a conclusion. Compare Sweden
- Read Sweden against its regional peers, the Europe averages reveal the structural pattern. Europe overview
These indices reflect the law as written, not how it is enforced, recent amendments, or the facts of any individual case. For a real decision, confirm the current statute and consult a qualified employment lawyer, see our disclaimer.
Related
Data sourced from official OECD, ILO, and World Bank employment-protection datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEmploy Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from OECD, ILO, and World Bank labor market databases. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Primary sources: ILO EPLex, World Bank B-READY, OECD EPL.
PlainEmploy is rendered directly from the OECD Employment Protection Legislation indicators, the ILO EPLex database, and the World Bank B-READY labor pillar, no number is typed in by an editor. This country's composite scores and comparisons are computed directly from the underlying OECD/EPLex/B-READY tables, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-07-06.