1. Iceland 103.000 square km. 313.000 inhabitants 63% living in the capital area (Reykjavik+6 connected towns / municipalities) 74% living on the South- west part of Iceland (capital area+ 3 towns and few more municipalities) Akureyri is the biggest town outside the South-west area Capital area South-west area Akureyri

2. Iceland  The weather is mild costal weather, never hot and never really cold. Avarage temperature in Reykjavík is 10,6°C in July, 0°C in January  Iceland is not as far away as many think, 2,5-3 hours flights to cities like London, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

3. Labour Market  Unemployment ca. 1.1% in average 2007. May 2008: 1%  Economic growth 3,8% in 2007  Foreign citizens living Iceland constituted 6% of the total population and around 10% of the labour force 2007. Have increased fast since 2004, have mostly come from the new memberstates.  Largest groups of immigrants in Iceland are from Poland, Lithunia and Germany.

4. Job oppertunities  Workers in agri- and horticulture – all year around  Chefs, waiters and general hotel workers (summer season)  Meat industry during the slaughter season, Sept. Okt.  Nurses, auxilary nurses and care attendants  Pre school and kindergarten teachers

5. Job oppertunities  Drivers and operators  Physiotherapists  Engineers  Wharehouse workers  Div. service attendants  Postworkers; sorting and delivering  Factoryworkers

6. Language  Fair knowledge of English or a scandi-navian language is usually a precondition for an unskilled job  Learning Icelandic gives you a great advantage and enhances your chances in finding a more interesting and better paid job.

7. Finding a job in Iceland  www.eures.europa.eu www.eures.is www.eures.europa.euwww.eures.is  Fill out and submit EURES application form: www.vinnumalastofnun.is/eureswww.vinnumalastofnun.is/eures  Then you can contact EURES IS and hear about your possibilities. Also if you know what kind of business you want to work for EURES can help you find suitable enterprises. EURES IS, e-mail: eures@svm.is / phone: +354 554 7600 eures@svm.is

8. Finding a job in Iceland  Advertisments from newspapers: www.mbl.is, www.visir.is The employment section „Atvinna“ comes out every Sunday.www.mbl.is www.visir.is  Private Job Agencies: www.radning.is, www.vinna.is for a complete list of agencies: www.vinnumalastofnun.is > Tenglar www.radning.iswww.vinna.is www.vinnumalastofnun.is

9. What should you bring with you?  Documents for transferring your health and social security rights. E- 104/European health insurance card.  The E-301 form in case you happen to get unemployed after working for some time in Iceland

10. Integration politics Housing: 75-85% privately owned. Average price per square meter for rented flat/room 14 - 17€ minus rent subsidies Language courses: many and increasing options and are subsidized by the authorities Family: No special schedule to help mobile workers bring their families with them, but after a certain time same right as nationals. Wages (levels): min. for unskilled worker: 1.515 € Substantial difference between union rates and market salaries > increase awareness

11. Integration politics 1€ = 122 ISK – 13 May 2007 *Wages include regular overtime and shift differential. **Engineers with masters degree and five years of work experience. Union ratesMarket wages Labourers1.129 €1.557 € Tradesmen1.701 €2.644 € Nurses1.762 €2.954€* Engineers1.710 €4.316 €**

12. Income tax Salary for 1 month150.000 4% deduction for pension 6.000 Taxable income 144.000 Tax rate 35,72%x144.000 51.432 Personal tax credit 34.034 Witholding tax 17.403 Salary after taxes 126.597 In average 27% of your salary goes to tax