1. Living and Working IN SWEDEN
Thomas Engel
EURES Adviser
Jönköping, Sweden

2. Facts about Sweden 9.3 million inhabitants, only 20 people/km2
Sweden is the third largest country in EU
9.3 million inhabitants, only 20 people/km2
85% live in the South
Currency: Swedish Crown 100 SEK =10,91 Euro
(October 2011)

3. Kiruna
Umeå
km2
1574 km
Stockholm
Göteborg
Malmö

4. Famous Swedes Stieg Larsson Zlatan Ibrahimovic Alfred Nobel
Astrid Lindgren
Ingemar Bergman
IKEA and H&M
Volvo and Saab

5. Language skills Some highly skilled jobs require only English.
Most jobs require fluent Swedish.
Some highly skilled jobs require only English.
Few jobs for low skilled workers with no Swedish.

6. Labour Market Statistics
Unemployment rate 7,3 %
Youth unemployment rate 23%
(August 2011)

7. Shortages
physicians
upper secondary school teachers in vocational subjects
surgical, psychiatric, radiology and urgent care nurses
engineers: electric power
engineering officers: ships and ferries
certified pre-school teachers
metalworkers: construction

8. Surpluses daycare workers receptionists nursing assistants
assistents for students with special needs
biologists
janitors
warehouse workers
shop assistants
low skilled restaurant personnel

9. Working in Sweden Full time, 40 hours per week
6 months “trial” employment
Full time, 40 hours per week
25 days vacation per year
No national minimum wage
Collective agreements between unions and employers.

10. Finding a job Many links to other major job websites. EURES
Public Employment Services
Many links to other major job websites.
EURES
Swedish newspapers

11. Applying for a job in Sweden
Applying via is common.
Applications should be typewritten in Swedish
or English.
An application consists of:
Cover letter (1 page)
CV (1-2 pages)

12. Recognition of foreign diplomas
Regulated professions – NARIC
The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education

13. Income Tax Municipal tax between 29-35 %, depending on where you live
Most people pay only municipal tax
State tax is paid on incomes above SEK – 20% above SEK – 25 %
(2011)

14. Unemployment insurance
Is not a part of the Social Insurance scheme.
Basic insurance: No membership requirement, max 320 SEK/day
Voluntary insurance: For members of an unemployment insurance fund, max 680 SEK/day
300 days, 5 days per week. Tax will be deducted.
(2011)

15. Housing
Rent an apartment or house (cooker, fridge and freezer included)
1 bedroom apartment, average rent 4,595 SEK/month, 68 m2 (heat included)
Buy into a housing co-op
Buy a house
Accommodation costs vary greatly

16. Swedish work place culture
Flat organisations
Team work and consensus
”Du” – first name basis – informality!
Gender equality
Strong trade unions

17. Sweden and Swedes Coffee and coffee breaks
Shoes off indoors (in people’s homes)
Tend to avoid conflict
Light summer nights and dark winters

18. Tack! Thank you! Thomas Engel thomas.engel@arbetsformedlingen.se
Brochure: Living and Working in Sweden under Other languages