1. Living and working in Norway
Hallgeir Jenssen, Eures adviser,
Tromsø, Norway
Living and working in Norway

2. Tromsø

3. Moskva

4. Tromsø

7. Work in the public employment office in Tromsø as an EURES ADVISER7

8. Norway The Norwegian currency is Norwegian kroner, NOK.
1 euro = 9,30 NOK
Norway is a monarchy.

9. Geography
1750 km long
430 km at the widest and 6 km at the most narrow
km coastline
4, million inhabitants incl ”foreigners”
Growth in 2008
Capital city: Oslo inhabitants
Biggest cities:
Bergen:
Trondheim:
Stavanger:
Kristiansand:
Fredrikstad:
Tromsø:

10. 218.000 Europeans in Norway more than 6 months per 1. January 2008
1. Poland
2. Sweden
3. Denmark
4. Germany
5. Bosnia-Hercegovina 15649
6. Turkey
7. Russia
8. United Kingdom
9. Kosovo
10.Finland
11.The Netherlands
12. Lithuania
23. Spain

11. 65000 foreigners less than 6 months
Nordic countries
Poland
Lithuania
West-Europe 8000

12. Norway

19. Population and language
Sami population in the north
Two official languages:
Bokmål
Nynorsk
+ Sami language in certain municipalities
Many different dialects
Norwegian is closely related to Swedish and Danish
Most Norwegian people speak English quite well
….. but most of the employers require that you speak Norwegian, or a Scandinavian language

20. Characteristic features
Climatic differences from
– 40 to + 30
Natural phenomena: Midnight sun and Northern Lights
Big variety in nature
Great outdoor life
High standard of living
Extensive welfare system
Safe working conditions

21. Norwegians from a foreigner’s perspective
Flat structure – Who is the boss?
Equality/No spesial treatment
Need of space, keep a little distance and privacy
Not the most impulsive ones – need time.
Boring, cold lunches
”Unpolite” - Problems with saying ”hello”
Dress code

22. Dress code

23. The labour market Unemployment rate
1. December 2008: 1,8 % ( people)
2,0 % for men, 1,6 % for women
Higest in tourisme, transport and construction 2,7 %
Lowest unemployement amongst: - teaching/education 0,5 %
- Leaders, all kind off engineers and IT developers and programmers; 0,7 %

24. Lowest unemployment rate
11. Rogaland 1,1 %
14. Sogn og Fjordane 1,2 %
2. Akershus 1,3 %
15. Møre og Romsdal 1,4 %
14. Hordaland 1,6 %
Higest
20. Finnmark 2,9 %
3. Oslo 2,3 %
9. Aust-Agder 2,3 %
8. Telemark 2,2 %
17. N-Trøndelag 2,2 %

25. Labour Market Statistics
The unemployment rate has increased in most regions due to the financial crisis
We expect an unemployment rate of 2,9% by 2010
There are now a decreasing number of vacancies whithin all occupational groups. 56 % fewer vacancies in shop and sale compared with last December.
Big challenge: To find enough qualified people
Many companies still have recruitment problems. Especially those needing engineers
Recruitment from abroad is, and will still be crucial

26. Mechanical Industry
Part of the industry is experiencing increased unemployment
Still need for
Industrial Plumbers
Industrial mechanics
Machine Operator (CNC)

27. The petroleum sector
About employees in this sector. 35% offshore
Norway is no 5 in oil/3 in gas
Safety course and medical certificate needed
Large competition for the jobs
Highly skilled personnel with long experience
Shortages: Petroleum engineers and specially skilled operators
Main source of recruitment from the Mechaqnical industry

28. Statoil/Hydro is ”in” the Russian oil and gas industry
Moskva

29. Building and construction
Up till now: Boom!
But now cooling down considerably
The unemployment rate 2,7 % has the highest increase in the construction industry and 48 % fewer vacancies since last December
Import of workers from abroad, particularly from Poland and Lithuania

30. IT
More than 60 % of all companies in this sector are expecting growth and need more people next year.
2350 more programmers and system developers are needed.

31. Health A lack of 6100 people within the health sector:
Doctor specialists
Doctors - rural areas
Dentists - public sector
Nurses – specialized, especially midwifes
Assistant nurses – future need
Personal assistants

32. Hotel and restaurant A need for chefs and cooks
Also waiters, headwaiters and barkeepers.
Biggest need in and around Oslo
Increasing demand year round and particularly during summer season.

33. TOURISM Cooks, waiters, cleaners, guides
“Seasonal work”
FISHING INDUSTRY Stagnation, but optimism: research within farming of new species.
Low demand for labour.
All along the west coast, many small companies; most recruitment in the northern counties.
Most work on land: Fish processing. Hard working conditions.
Fish sent to China for processing
TOURISM Cooks, waiters, cleaners, guides

34. Transport Strong demand for taxidrivers Bus drivers Lorry drivers
Many of the recently unemployed people are able to fill some of these vacancies.

35. NORWAY NEEDS ENGINEERS!
ARE YOU AN ENGINEER IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FIELDS?
OIL/GAS INDUSTRY, SHIPPING AND CONSTRUCTION
Piping
Pipe design
Subsea
Mechanics
Structure
Steel construction
Marine technology
Process
Electrical
Instrument
Safety/QA/HES
Procurement
Construction (building industry)
Hydraulics
IT (higher level) project management

36. Norway needs also qualified technicians in many of these fields, and especially technical designers (Autocad)
The companies require:
engineer diploma OR solid work experience in the engineering field
young graduates can also apply
sound knowledge of English (written and spoken)
The companies offer:
good working conditions
long term contracts
opportunity to develop in a country with a booming oil and gas sector
Thank you for sending us your CV and a cover letter to
Please indicate:
- when you are available
- if there are any particular regions in Norway you would prefer to work in,
and we will do our best to place your CV in accordance with your wishes.
Your CV will be forwarded to employers, which will contact you if they find your CV relevant.

37. Result Engineer-project!
15 Job Fairs for Engineers in 2008
140 engineers to 35 companies
From Portugal, Germany, Sweden and Poland
180 companies are interestes in this project

38. About 800 engineers CV – Master’s level
AutoCAD/design Materials
Automation/mechatronics * Mechanics
Chemistry Marine / naval arch.
Construction Piping
* Electricity Process (chemistry)
* Electronics Safety / QA / QC
Environment Structures
Geo engineers Telecommunication
Hydraulics Petroleum
HVAC Water treatment IT
Listing the different engineering fields covered by the Italian CVs.
The point here is that these fields are those Norwegian companies need engineers in.

39. Work and residence permits
Norway is not a member of the Eurpean Union, but we are a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).
All EU and EEA citizens have the right to take up work in Norway (there are some restrictions for the new EU-member countries).
Spanish citizens do not need a work permit, but a residence permit. This must be applied for whithin three months after having started to work in Norway.
Apply to the local police station
An ID-number must be applied for at the Registartion Office.
NAV You do not have to register here, but only get informed about your rights. You apply for all kind of benefits at the NAV office ( child benefit, cash benefit, pensions etc)

40. NORMAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work contract
6 months trial period
Salary normally paid once a month. The employer deducts the taxes from your monthly pay.
Normal working hours are 37,5 hours per week. Shift workers have 35,5 hours.
Holliday: 25 working days per year. 30 days for employees over the age of 60.
Holliday pay 12% of gross pay for trade union members. 10,2% for non trade union members.
You have to earn your paid holliday by working the previous calendar year.

41. Salaries The average wage in Norway is among the highest in Europe.
According to the statistics the average monthly salary is NOK 32,300 (about 3600 euro).
The 10% best paid wage earners receives in average NOK 62,300 ( 7000 euro) per month.
The 10% lowest paid wage earners receives in average NOK 18,600 (2100 euro) per month.
No minimum salaries in Norway. Normally according to collective agreements.
Wage negotiations once a year (in April-May) between the trade unions and the Norwegian Employers´Confederation

42. Wages for engineers
The wages for engineers will range from NOK 350,000 to 750,000 (Euro 39,000 to 74,000) per year, before taxes.
Service engineers, who travels a lot will have very high salaries. Senior engineers in the field of drilling, piping, petrolium, subsea will also have very high salaries.
An average salary for an engineer with 4-5 years of experience is about NOK 370,000 to 420,000 (Euro 41,000 to 47,000) per year.
The salaries offered in Oslo and Stavanger is normally higher than in other Norwegian regions. This is to compensate for the increased living costs in these towns.

43. TAX
Everybody who works in Norway for a Norwegian employer most pay income tax in Norway.
10 % off income tax is free for foreigners the 2 first years
- e.g: earn , then is tax-free, pay tax of only
Normal tax 33 % per month
- June is tax-free
- December is half tax-free
= ca 25 % tax each year
Tax return form. Must be delivered before the end of April.

44. NATIONAL INSURANCE I What is covered through the National Insurance?
Sickness benefit. 100% pay first year, 66% of the pay the second year.
Benefits related to child birth. 12 months with 80% of ordinary pay or 10 months with 100% pay. Paternity leave 6 weeks.
Unemployment benefit. About 63% of pay for a maximum of 2 years.

45. NATIONAL INSURANCE II What is covered through the National Insurance?
Old-age pension. (Retirement age in Norway is 67 years)
Disablement benefit.
Free treatment in the hospital.
Free dental treatment for those under the age of 18.

46. NATIONAL INSURANCE III
What is covered through the National Insurance?
Child benefit. The ages from 0 to 18. NOK 970 per month (about 107 Euro).
Benefits for single parents.
Cash benefit “Kontantstøtte”. From the age of 1 to 3. Maximum NOK 3657 per month (406 Euro).
You have to apply for these benefits at Nav Trygd if the child is not born in Norway.

47. What do you get for your wages?
Norway - fifth place in Europe for cheap food!
(Düsseldorf is the cheapest)
If you work 2 hours and 2 minutes, you have enough money to buy one week’s supply of food
Norwegians spending of their salary: -housing, light, heating - 25% -public transport, car - 20% -food % -culture, leisure time - 12%
UN: Norway highest score for income, duration of life, and living conditions.

48. Costs
It is more expensive to be tourist in Norway, than to actually live there.
Food (except meat) and cloths are not so expensive.
Alcohol and cigarettes are very expensive.
Eating out in a restaurant is also expensive.
Cars are very expensive.
Petrol is also expensive, despite the fact that Norway is an oil producing nation. The prices will vary from day to day. On average it costs about 1,4 euro per litre.

49. Average prices in Norway
NOK
EUR
Bread 750 gr 20
2,30
Milk 1l 11
1,30
Butter 250 g 17
1,95
Marmelade 1 Kilo 21
2,40
Cheese 1 kg 80
9,20
Beer 0,33 18 2
Coffee 250g
Bus ticket Oslo 25
2,90
Potatos 9
1,03
Hair cut (woman)
420
48,30
Hair cut (man)
200 23
Cola/mineral water 1,5 L
Flour 1 kg CD
170
19,55
Movie theater 80
9,20
Big Mac Menu - big 85
9,80
Chocolate bar
12,5
1,45
Newspaper 10
1,15
Magazine 45
5,20
Shower gel 25
2,90
Shampoo 35 4
Beef 1 kg
200 23
Sausage 1 kg
100
11,50
Salmon 1 kg
Cigarettes (1 pack, 20) 75
8,60
Shrimps 1 kg

50. HOUSE/COSTS
Most Norwegian people own their own house. About 90% of couples who lives together own their own house/apartment. About 67% of young couples and single parents own their own house/apartment.
The average rent for a flat is
1 room 470 euro, 2 room 540 euro , 3 room 610 euro per month.
Oslo and Stavanger is much more expensive
You can get your own house with a garden for about NOK 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 (170,000 euro to 220,000 euro). Prices vary. Exception Oslo and Stavanger.
Oslo is the most expensive town in the world.

51. Average price to buy per square metre (all of Norway € 2.988)
Oslo € 4.060
Bergen € 3.433
Stavanger € 3.350
Tromsø € 3.337
Trondheim € 3.084
Sandnes € 2.880
Kristiansand € 2.783
Lillehammer € 2.651

52. Average price per square metre (Counties)
Oslo € 4.060
Hordaland (Bergen) € 3.241
Akershus € 3.133
Rogaland (Stavanger) € 2.928
Trøndelag (Trondheim) € 2.747
North-Norway (Tromsø)€ 2.590
Agder (Kristiansand) € 2.470
Vestfold € 2.253
Buskerud € 2.217
Oppland (Lillehammer) € 2.157
Østfold € 2.096
Møre & Romsdal(Molde)€ 2.084

54. Bring your car along? To drive a foreign car in Norway is allowed if:
1) Commuter
Your family can’t live in Norway. You must go home each month, and stay home all in all 185 days each year. or
2) Timelimited employment contract (max 2 years)
If your stay is more than 1 year, you must contact the Norwegian Costums (Tollvesenet) to get a permit for 1 more year
Allways keep the timelimited employment contract in your car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

55. Important custom rules
Max 1,5 liter wine (up to 22%) and 1liter spirits (up to 60%)
and 2 liter beer (up to 4,75 % alkohol)
200 sigarettes
10 kg meat and cheese
10 kg fruit, berries and vegetables
NO POTATOES!!
Goods valued at max NOK

56. Jobseeking 60-70% of the jobs are not advertised
Make a Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English. The Europass CV is getting more common to use.
Use and
Companies web sites
Contact employers directly
Use your personal network
You can send your CV to

57. Where to find the jobs www.nav.no (only available in Norwegian)
and
NAV Service Centre Phone:
(Monday – Friday 08:00 – 18:00)
Contact the EURES Adviser in your area

62. Further information:

63. Contact
Hallgeir Jenssen EURES adviser Nav EURES Tromsø, Norway Tel: