The aim was to examine hospitalization due to stroke and acute myocardial infarction, respectively, and to analyze differences between the self-employed and paid employees in the same industries. Data and methods: Data from Statistics Sweden's population register (2003) was linked to National Board of Health and Welfare’s hospital admission register and cause of death register (2004-2008). More than 4.7 million people (7% self-employed) were included in the analyses. Individuals were classified on the basis of their occupational status as self-employed persons or employees. The self-employed were further classified as sole proprietors or limited liability company owners according to the legal form of self-employment. Based on the Swedish Standard Industrial Classification (SNI 2002) eight industries were distinguished. Diagnoses of hospitalization were classified as stroke (intracerebral hemorrhage I61, cerebral infarction I63, and unspecified acute cerebrovascular disease I64) and acute myocardial infarction (I21) based on the international classification of diseases (ICD-10). Stroke and Myocardial Infarction (MI) hospitalization incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using negative binomial regression models adjusted for pre-specified potential confounding covariates. Effect modification by occupational status, industrial sector, and gender was investigated with two and three-way interaction terms.