1. Living and Working in Norway, October 2009
NAV EURES Norway – EURES Adviser Bodil Broch-Austvoll
Living and Working in Norway, October 2009

2. Norway – the country ”up north”

3. Some facts and figures…
Statistics:
Length 1750 km
7th largest in Europe
4,8 mill. inhabitants
19 Counties
Largest cities:
Oslo ( )
Bergen ( )
Trondheim ( )
Stavanger ( )

4. Unemployment pr region
2,4 %
3,2 %
2,5 %
Unemployment pr region
2,3 %
2,9 %
2,7%
1,7 %
2.1 %
3,2 %
3,1 %

5. Labour Market II - Shortages
Engineers (with experience)
IT specialists (with experience)
Mechanical Industry (skilled workers)
Health sector (doctors and specialised nurses)
Hotel and tourism (Seasonal - chefs and waiters)
Preschool Teachers
Construction sector (highly skilled workers only)
Transport (bus drivers and long-distance)

6. Labour Market III - surpluses
Consultants (economy/administration)
Office workers
Health sector (unskilled workers)
Sales and service staff
Construction (unskilled craftsmen)
Hotel/Restaurant (unskilled workers)
Industrial sector (unskilled workers)

7. Language Most Norwegians speak English
But most of the employers require that you speak Norwegian, or an Scandinavian language
The Norwegian authorities do not offer EU/EEA citizens language courses free of charge

8. Jobseeking I Make a Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English:
Personalia (name, address, phone, etc.)
Education (describe shortly)
Work Experience (describe shortly)
Courses
Language skills
Interests
References (former employer + phone numbers)
Photos not required
1-2 pages maximum
Use Living & Working in Norway (last page)

9. Jobseeking II Find jobs at: www.eures.europa.eu (Choose Norway)
(Choose English)
(NAV EURES in English)
Call for jobs at: NAV Service Centre Phone
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 08:00 – 18:00
Contact the EURES Adviser in your area

10. Jobseeking III Yellow pages - www.gulesider.no (English version)
Companies’ web sites
Use Google, Yahoo etc.
Contact employers directly
Use your personal network
60/70% of the jobs are NOT advertised

11. www.nav.no – jobs, social security and more….

12. Employment issues “Working environment act”
All employers are required to give you a written contract which should contain:
Starting date
Working hours (37,5 – 40 hours per week)
Wages, paid when and how often (pr month)
Trial period (6 months)
Period of notice (3 months/ 2 weeks)
Holidays in Norway (5 weeks)
(Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority)

13. Wages No national minimum wages: Unskilled labour wages:
Employers’ and labour unions negotiate
Except Construction: minimum wages per hour NOK 115 and 134
, (€ 13/16)
Unskilled labour wages:
App. NOK 90 – 120 (€ 10 – 15) per hour
Skilled labour wages:
App. NOK 110 – 150 (€ 13 – 18) per hour
Specialist labour wages:
App. NOK 180 and higher (€ 21->) per hour

14. The National Insurance Scheme
As a rule all persons working in Norway are automatically insured
You pay a national insurance contribution through your taxes
As a members of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme you may be entitled to such rights and benefits as:
Sick pay
Child and family benefits
Unemployment benefits
Pensions
Occupational injury
Assigned doctor
NAV SERVICE PHONE: (Information in English, Polish and some other languages)

15. Useful websites II Recognition of qualifications<.
(vocational and higher education)
(authorization of health personnel)

16. Good ideas Start learning Norwegian
Try to find out where in Norway you want to live
Find out what kind of jobs you are interested in
Send your CV around, and follow them up by calling

17. Questions?

18. Velkommen til Norge! Bodil Broch-Austvoll EURES adviser www.eures.no
(+47)