The first day of the year is usually a tired day. But 2024 calls in with an extra day off. Admittedly, New Year’s Day is always a red day, but this year it falls on a Monday and thus shortens the working week for everyone who works Monday–Friday. A plus for those of us who like to be a little extra free.
Then it continues on the same track, even if there is a temporary setback with the Epiphany on a Saturday. Labor Day, May Day, is in the middle of the week. Even June 6, Sweden’s national day, falls on a weekday in 2024, Thursday, with a possible bank holiday as a bonus.
Long holiday over Christmas
And the Christmas and New Year holidays 2024/25 are pure bingo if you belong to those who do not work shifts. All six holidays fall on weekdays. Five vacation days gives 2.5 weeks off.
The smolk in the cup of joy is the leap year. 2024 is one day longer than usual, so the number of working days will actually normally be many. 2025 will be better, with a couple of fewer working days.
But employers may be less happy. Less production/revenue risks becoming the case when employees get more days off.
Five billion kroner a day
And if it tastes good, it costs, even if on the margin. For the Swedish economy as a whole, the gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to be in the order of five billion kroner lower per working day that Swedes do not work compared to a normal year, according to the Institute of Economics’ previous approximate calculations.
Swedish GDP in 2022 was almost SEK 6,000 billion, according to Statistics Norway.