Yrkesbeteckningen

Yrkesbeteckningen is a Swedish term that translates literally to “professional designation” and is used to identify and classify occupations within various administrative, statistical, and employment contexts. It is similar to occupational codes employed in other countries, such as the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) or the American Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). In Sweden, the Yrkesbeteckningen is integral to the national registration of workers and is used by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), and in statistical reporting by Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån, SCB).

The Yrkesbeteckningen typically consists of a combination of letters and numbers that reference specific job titles, skill levels, and industry sectors. For example, a code may begin with a letter indicating a broad occupational field (such as “N” for healthcare) followed by numbers that denote subcategories. These codes help ensure consistency when collecting labour market data, reporting tax information, and matching job seekers with suitable positions.

Implementation of the Yrkesbeteckningen began in the late 20th century as part of Sweden’s efforts to modernize its bureaucratic processes and to align national occupational data with European Union standards. In 2009, the system was updated to reflect the ISCO‑08 classification and to improve interoperability with international statistical frameworks. The database of Yrkesbeteckningar is publicly available and can be consulted through government portals, facilitating research on employment trends, wage analysis, and vocational training needs.