In 2007, there were 85,000 individuals in the group of young people not in employment or education between the ages of 16 and 25; 52.0 % were girls and 48.0 % were boys. The number of young people not in employment or education was significantly higher in 2008, when there were 102,000 individuals in this group. The entire group of young people between the ages of 16 and 25 grew by 2.8 % between 2007 and 2008. The number of young people who were not in employment or education rose by 19.6 %. In other words, population growth can only explain a minor part of the change. A significant global economic crisis took place in September and October 2008, with consequent economic turndown in Sweden. As this occurred rather late in the year, we are unlikely to be able to see its full effect on the number of young people not in employment or education until we have the data for 2009. However, according to the Labour Force Surveys, the number of unemployed young people between the ages of 15 and 24 was higher for all quarters of 2008 compared with 2007 (Statistics Sweden, 2009). These levels were significantly higher for young people between the ages of 20 and 24 during the third and fourth quarters (around five and fifteen per cent higher respectively compared with the previous year). For young people between the ages of 15 and 19, this level was around ten to fifteen per cent higher in the third quarter of 2008 (Source: Young people not in employment or education - how many are they and what are they doing?, Theme group youth, 2011:1)

(Source: Young people not in employment or education - how many are they and what are they doing?, Theme group youth, 2011:1)

In an international perspective, youth unemployment inSweden has been relatively high for several decades. In 2006, around 10 per cent of young adults (20–24 year-olds) were unemployed. Since the 1970s, unemployment in this age group has, on average, been approximately three times higher than among middle-aged adults (35–64 year-olds), both during times of prosperity and recession. During a recession, when unemployment is higher among all age groups, these circumstances mean that unemployment among youths becomes particularly high. Variations in youth unemployment over time appear to be unaffected by the changes made to upper-secondary education since the late 1970s. Therefore, the reasons for the comparatively high level of unemployment among youths are likely to be found in the labour market (Source: Social Report - The national report on social conditions in Sweden, The National Board of Health and Welfare, 2010).

Many young adults (20–24 year-olds) are outside the labour market and are therefore at higher risk of poverty. Poverty among students is widespread but temporary, as most students become established on the labour market after their studies. However, the group that neither works nor studies during the transition phase between youth and adulthood is particularly vulnerable. This group has exhibited difficulties in getting established on the labour market, even over the long term. In 2006, slightly more than 11 per cent of all young adults neither worked nor studied, which is an increase by 1 percentage point since 2000. Young adults who have recently immigrated to Sweden are another group that is very sensitive to fluctuations in the market, and their establishment on the labour market may be delayed by several years if they come to Sweden during the beginning of an economic downturn.