Headcount growth in knowledge-based sectors could be more than just a sign of business confidence; it might also reveal untapped financial incentives.
Under the Swedish R&D tax incentive scheme, companies can reduce their employer social security contributions by 20 percentage points for employees engaged in qualified R&D activities. This means that an increase in technical staff—such as software engineers, analysts, or developers—might point to a broader opportunity for tax relief.
If your organisation is growing and investing in innovation, it may be time for an R&D tax review.
Labour Market Confidence Is Rising in Knowledge-Driven Industries
Recent employment data indicates a continually strong hiring outlook across several service sectors, particularly in knowledge-intensive roles. Among them, the technical consultancy industry shows consistently positive hiring sentiment. This trend reflects continued investment in human capital and confidence in long-term growth.
Crucially, many of the roles being added—such as technical developers, product designers, and technical consultants—are directly involved in activities that may meet the Swedish Tax Agency’s definition of R&D. These include systematic and qualified work that uses the results of reseach for a commercial purpose to develop new or significantly improved goods, services, or production processes.In short, hiring growth in these areas may be a strong indicator of R&D activity.
R&D Payroll Tax Relief: An Underused Opportunity
The purpose of the R&D scheme is to boost research and development in Sweden and help companies minimize the risk associated with investing in R&D. However, despite the growth of technical teams, the incentive remains underutilized by many Swedish companies.
A question we at Leyton often get from our clients is: Are they actually engaging in R&D work? Companies may not realize that their dedication to developing new and improved products or finding new solutions to technical and scientific challenges—such as process automation, prototype testing, or software development—can qualify as eligible R&D activities.
Don’t miss out on discussing with Leyton’s R&D tax relief experts.
Interpreting Sectoral Hiring Expectations
The chart below reflects net-balance hiring expectations for employment over the next three months, broken down by selected industries within the service sector. This survey has been conducted monthly by NIER (The National Institute of Economic Research) over more than a decade. A positive value means that more companies plan to hire than reduce staff, while a negative value indicates the opposite.
These figures show that technical consultancy (SNI 71.12) continues to lead in hiring optimism, signalling long-term workforce expansion. Meanwhile, the finance and legal services sectors stand out by consistently showing cautious hiring behaviour throughout various stages of the economic cycle.
Where hiring is strongest, innovation tends to follow—and with it, potential R&D eligibility.
Conclusion
As the service sector evolves and adapts to new demands, organisations that invest in technical talent may be unlocking more than just operational capacity. They may also be triggering eligibility for a substantial tax relief.
If your business is growing and innovating, it is worth inquiring whether your current operations qualify for the R&D tax deduction. A well-informed review could reveal significant financial opportunities.
