Can an employer hire a married couple?

The basic rule is that employers may hire whoever they consider best suited for the job. In principle, therefore, there is freedom of employment in Sweden, but depending on whether it is the public or private sector, there are certain restrictions.
In the public sector, the restrictions are more extensive than in the private sector.

In the case of government employment, there is an obligation to hire on the basis of merit and skill, unlike in the private sector. Merit broadly refers to the number of years of service and skill refers to the competence and education of the job applicant.
Other restrictions include the following:

• Former employees may have a claim to preferential treatment for the job.
• Part-time employees may be entitled to preferential treatment for a higher level of employment or full-time employment.
• The employer must follow the rules of the Discrimination Act, i.e. not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
• Some employees must be qualified for the profession, e.g. teachers or doctors.
• Checks must be made on, among other things, work permits when employing foreign nationals.

There may be additional regulatory requirements depending on the sector you work in.

I suggest you have a discussion with your managers and/or HR or your local association to find out what applies to your particular workplace. You are also welcome to contact Naturvetarnas member advice.