Living and working in Norway

Hallgeir Jenssen, Eures adviser,

Tromsø, Norway

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•Tromsø

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•Moskva

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Tromsø

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Work in the public employment office in Tromsø as an EURES ADVISER

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Norway

The Norwegian currency is Norwegian kroner, NOK.

1 euro = 9,30 NOK

Norway is a monarchy.

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Geography

1750 km long

430 km at the widest and 6 km at the most narrow

25.148 km coastline

4, million inhabitants incl. 459.000 ”foreigners”

Growth 64.000 in 2008

Capital city: Oslo 560.000 inhabitants

Biggest cities:– Bergen: 248.000– Trondheim: 165.000– Stavanger: 120.000– Kristiansand: 79.000– Fredrikstad: 72.000– Tromsø: 67.000

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218.000 Europeans in Norway more than 6 months per 1. January 2008

1. Poland 320692. Sweden 262443. Denmark 192204. Germany 174725. Bosnia-Hercegovina 156496. Turkey 150037. Russia 128238. United Kingdom 117849. Kosovo 1105210.Finland 652811.The Netherlands 599812. Lithuania 511923. Spain 1789

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65000 foreigners less than 6 months

Nordic countries 24000

Poland 15100

Lithuania 4800

West-Europe 8000

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Norway

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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

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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

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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

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Dress code

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The labour market

Unemployment rate

1. December 2008: 1,8 % (45.000 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 %

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Higest20. Finnmark 2,9 % 3. Oslo 2,3 % 9. Aust-Agder 2,3 % 8. Telemark 2,2 %17. N-Trøndelag 2,2 %

Lowest unemployment rate11. Rogaland 1,1 %14. Sogn og Fjordane 1,2 % 2. Akershus 1,3 %15. Møre og Romsdal 1,4 %

14. Hordaland 1,6 %

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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

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Mechanical Industry

Part of the industry is experiencing increased unemployment

– Still need for

Industrial Plumbers

Industrial mechanics

Machine Operator (CNC)

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The petroleum sector

About 80.000 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

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•Moskva

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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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“Seasonal work”

FISHING INDUSTRYStagnation, 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

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Transport

Strong demand for taxidrivers

Bus drivers

Lorry drivers

Many of the recently unemployed people are able to fill some of these vacancies.

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NORWAY NEEDS ENGINEERS!

ARE YOU AN ENGINEER IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FIELDS?OIL/GAS INDUSTRY, SHIPPING AND CONSTRUCTION

PipingPipe designSubseaMechanicsStructureSteel construction

Marine technologyProcess Electrical InstrumentSafety/QA/HESProcurement

Construction (building industry)HydraulicsIT (higher level)project management

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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 engineers@nav.no

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.

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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

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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.

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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 300.000, then 30.000 is tax-free, pay tax of only 270.000

- 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 - 12%-culture, leisure time - 12%

UN: Norway highest score for income, duration of life, and living conditions.

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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.

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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 18 2

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

17 1,95

Flour 1 kg 11 1,30

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 80 9,20

Cigarettes (1 pack, 20) 75 8,60

Shrimps 1 kg80 9,20

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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.

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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

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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

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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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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 6000.- NOK

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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 www.gulesider.no and

Companies web sites

Contact employers directly

Use your personal network

You can send your CV to eures@nav.no

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Where to find the jobs

www.nav.no (only available in Norwegian)

www.eures.no and www.eures.europa.eu

NAV Service Centre Phone: +47 800 33 166

(Monday – Friday 08:00 – 18:00)

Contact the EURES Adviser in your area www.finn.no

www.finnjobb.no

www.norske-aviser.com

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Further information:

www.norway.no

www.eures.no

www.nav.no

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Contact

Hallgeir JenssenEURES adviserNav EURES Tromsø, NorwayE-mail:

hallgeir.jenssen@nav.no Tel: +47 7775 1524