Living and Working in Norway

Nils-Erik Bjrholt/Innovation Norway

Johan Wildhagen/Innovation Norway
Erik Jrgensen/Innovation Norway
Vegard Kaarb NAV EURES
Norway

NAV EURES
NAV: Norwegian Labor and Wel!are
"d#inistration
- Job $entre
- National Insran%e
- Wel!are and &osial &ervi%e '!!i%e
EURES: E()o*ean E#*loy#ent
&ervi%es
- +, "dvisors
- Job #arket and job sear%h
- Living and working in!or#ation
- )e%rit#ent assistan%e

www-nav-no // www-eres-no

Norway . the %ontry /* north/

Norway
$rren%y: Norwegian kroner0 N'1
$onstittional #onar%hy: 1ing
2arald 3
4ri#e 5inister: Jens &toltenberg0
Labor *arty
6overn#ent: $entre-Le!t $oalition
7 8 9 N'1 :0;

Characteristics
-<;= to ><;=$
Bright s##ers - #idnight sn
?ark winters - long nights
. Northern Lights
@arora borealisA
Natral variety
'tdoor %ltre
2igh standard o! living
EBtensive wel!are syste#
&a!e working %onditions

Geograhy
4o*lation: C0,+;0<;;
I##igrants: D;80;;; / 8+0+E
. @4oland0 &weden0 Latvia
6er#any0 Litania0
4akistan0 IraF0 &o#aliaGA
8, %onties
$a*ital: 'slo
. D;:0;;; inhabitants
Biggest %ities:
Bergen +D+0;;;
Hrondhei# 8IJ0;;;
&tavanger 8+D0;;;
1ristiansand I,0J;;

!ore abo"t Norway#
Length 8IJ; k#
C<+ k# at the widest0
D k# at the narrowest
+J08C: k# %oast line
Ith largest in Ero*e
8D *ersons *er k#+

Lang"age
Hwo o!!i%ial !or#s:
. &tandard Norwegian @bok#KlA
. New Norwegian @nynorskA
$lose to &wedish and ?anish @we nderstand ea%h otherA
5any regional diale%ts
Norwegians s*eak English well0 bt not o!ten as a work*la%e
langage
EB%e*tions: 'il and *etrole# se%tor0 so#e %onstr%tion
worksites
Norwegian %orses held in #ost towns
Lree langage %orses !or EE" %itiMens not o!!ered

Lang"age $oo%s
So&e "se'"% websites:
www-#igranorsk-no @web-based %orseA
www-leBin-no @di%tionaryA
www-dialang-org @langage testA
htt*://stein*astein-%a**elenda##-no @!ree online eBer%ise bookA
www-nyinorge-no New in NorwayN
www-!-no "dlt Ed%ation "sso%iation @/Lolkeniversitet/A
www-norway-no List o! all #ni%i*alities in Norway
(ther tis:
3isit yor lo%al bookstore !or book/$? %orses
Langage s%hools in yor %ontryO
6ood English skills are also ne%essaryN

C"%t"ra% !atters
Llat str%tre in the work*la%e
. Who is the bossO
$on!or#ity and EFality - no
s*e%ial treat#ent
Need s*a%e0 kee*ing distan%e0
$an be n%o#!ortable with too
#%h *ersonal in!or#ation
Not the #ost i#*lsive ones .
need ti#e to a%%e*t %hange
$old ln%hes
/)de/O

)ress code

Labor 5arket I
Hotally ne#*loyed: +0JE @DJ ;;; *ersonsA
4artially ne#*loyed: %a 80;E @+I0;;; *ersonsA
)etraining: %a ;0DE @8J0;;; *ersonsA
5edi%al leave @by do%torA: D0<E
8; ;;; o*en va%an%y adverts
6lobal !inan%ial %risis in +;;,-+;8;:
. &lightly higher ne#*loy#ent and !ewer job
va%an%ies
Hhe trends are now trning in +;88:
. &killed workers again needed
. Es*e%ially engineers

Labor 5arket II - &hortages
. Engineers @oil and gas se%tor0 #ariti#e0 #e%hani%al indstryA
. IH s*e%ialists
. 5e%hani%al Indstry @skilled workersA
. 2ealth se%tor @do%tors and s*e%ialised nrsesA
. 2otel and toris# @&easonal - %he!s and waitersA
. 4res%hool Hea%hers
. $onstr%tion se%tor @highly skilled workers onlyA
. Hrans*ort @bs drivers and long-distan%eA

Labor 5arket III - &r*lses
. $onsltants @e%ono#y/ad#inistrationA
. '!!i%e workers
. 2ealth se%tor @nskilled workersA
. &ales and servi%e sta!!
. $onstr%tion @nskilled %ra!ts#enA
. 2otel/)estarant @nskilled workersA
. Indstrial se%tor @nskilled workersA

5e%hani%al Indstry

Welders

Indstrial *i*e !itters

Indstrial #e%hani%s

5a%hine o*erators
@$N$A

Indstrial *ainters

Inslators

&%a!!olders

'il and 4etrole# Indstry
Large %o#*etition !or the jobs
2ighly skilled *ersonnel with
long eB*erien%e only
)eFired s*e%ial sa!ety
%orses 9 very eB*ensive
)e%rit !ro# 5e%hani%al
Indstry
English as working langage
,;E o! jobs 9 onshore
&hortages: 4etrole# and
#e%hani%al engineers

Bilding P $onstr%tion
Indstry
&till #any lay-o!!s in rban
areas
&o#e de#and in so#e towns
and distri%ts
Bri%klayers
4l#bers
Lra#ers and %ar*enters
Hins#iths
Iron workers
$e#ent and stone workers
Ele%tri%ians
6ood English skills reFiredN

IH &e%tor

?e#and is greatly
in%reasing

5any new va%an%ies

advertised

5ore %o#*anies are

sing English as
work*la%e langage

2ighly skilled *ersonnel

.
4rogra##ers
.
&yste# %onsltants

2ealth &e%tor
?entists: *bli% se%tor
?o%tors: &*e%ialists needed
?o%tors: hard to re%rit in rral
areas
Nrses: both s*e%ialised and
others needed
"ssistant Nrses: so#e
sr*lses0 lots o! *art-ti#e
*ositions
(nskilled: little de#and
6ood Norwegian ne%essary

2otel and Horis# Indstry
$he!s
EB*erien%ed Waiters
&killed Bartenders
$leaning *ersonnel
6ood langage skills
5%h is seasonal work
Both s##er and winter
5any new s*a hotels
Largest de#and in 'slo and
other #ajor %ities
"lso NorwayQs #ontain areas
9 ski resorts0 hiking and !ishing
areas

Hrans*ort &e%tor
Lorry drivers
Long distan%e driving0 both
internal and inter%ontinental
Bs drivers
$onstr%tion #a%hinery drivers
&%andinavian langage skills
ne%essary
3alid %erti!i%ates
&easonal variations
. *a&i%iar with winter
conditions+

Lishing Indstry
NorwayRs se%ond largest
eB*ort indstry
&o#e de#and !or labor
within !ish *ro%essing indstry
"ll year rond bt so#e
seasonal variations
6ood English skills are
i#*ortant
Isolated living %onditions in
%oastal areas
Little de#and on the boats
5ariti#e sa!ety %orses are
reFired !or working at sea

Lar#ing/ "gri%ltre
(nskilled: 2arvesting
. &trawberries0 %abbage0
*otatoes
. &easonal work !ro# 5ay to
&e*te#ber
. 2iring done in Janary-5ar%h
. Lar#ers se their own
networks !or re%rit#ent
&killed: Lar# workers
. 5ilking @#a%hine o*eratedA
. Hra%tor @with eFi*#entA
. Sear rond / long-ter#
%ontra%ts

Working Conditions
Written %ontra%t is #andatoryN
D #onths *robationary *eriod
4eriod o! noti%e . < #onths @+ weeks dring *robationary *eriodA
&alary *aid on%e a #onth
E#*loyer draws taB !ro# yor #onthly *ay
<I0J working hors *er week
&hi!t workers %an have <J0J hors working week-
5aBi## C; hors *er week-
5e#bershi* in a trade nion %an be se!lG

Working Conditions ,,
2oliday leave: +J working days *er year
<; days !or e#*loyees over the age o! D;
2oliday *ay nor#ally *aid ot in the #onth o! Jne
2oliday *ay 8+E o! gross *ay !or trade nion #e#bers
8;0+E !or non trade nion #e#bers-
2oliday *ay is a%%#lated
Labor Ins*e%tion "thority: www-arbeidstilsynet-no
In!or#ation in English0 so#e in 4olish

Residence-Registration
Norway is an EE" @not E(A #e#ber
E(/EE" %itiMens have the right to work in Norway !ro# the !irst day o!
arrival
. EB%e*t: %itiMens o! )o#ania and BlgariaT restri%tions still a**ly
Job holders #st register with (?I @?ire%torate o! I##igrationA:
. htt*s://sel!servi%e-di-no @register onlineA or
. Nearest *oli%e station or
. &ervi%e $entre !or Loreign Workers @only in 'slo and so#e other
%itiesA
Job seekers sel!-register only when staying longer than < #onths
So will also need a National Identi!i%ation n#ber
. HaB o!!i%e/*o*lation register . www-skatteetaten-no

Nationa% ,ns"rance ,
"s a rle all *ersons working in Norway are ato#ati%ally insred
So *ay a national insran%e %ontribtion throgh yor taBes
Sickness .ene'it
8;;E *ay !irst year
DDE se%ond year i! still in a%tive treat#ent
5ini## 8+ weeks o! !ll-ti#e work
Une&%oy&ent .ene'it
"bot D<E o! *ay !or a #aBi## o! + years
5ini## : weeks o! !ll-ti#e work
Chi%d birth bene'it
8+ #onths with :;E *ay @or 8; #onths0 8;;E *ayA
4aternity leave: #ini## D weeks

Nationa% ,ns"rance ,,
What else is %overed throgh the National Insran%eO
(%d/age ension
)etire#ent age in Norway is DI years
)isabi%ity bene'it
*ree hosita% treat&ent
*ree denta% treat&ent 'or "nder/01s
Everyone has the right to a assigned doctor
Lower servi%e %harges
Lor *ri#ary %are as needed
%an also re!er to s*e%ialist health servi%es !or !rther treat#ent

Nationa% ,ns"rance ,,,
Chi%d bene'it
"ges ; to 8:: N'1 ,I; @78+JA *er
#onth
Sing%e/arent bene'it
2igher rates !or %hildren with only 8
*arent
Cash bene'it 2Kontantsttte3
"ges 8 to <: (* to N'1 <<;< @7C+:A *er
#onth-
$an be sed !or day %are or ho#e %are
Note: So have to a**ly !or these bene!its at
N"3 i! the %hild is not born in Norway-

$a4ation
Working in Norway !or a Norwegian e#*loyer0 yo *ay
in%o#e taB whi%h in%ldes national insran%e %ontribtion to
Norway
"verage in%o#e taB %an vary0 !ro# +:E to <D E de*ending
on #any !a%torsG
National Insran%e %ontribtion I-:E-
?ed%tionsN
E( %itiMens are entitled to a ded%tion %alled Ustandard!radrag/ in
the two !irst years @8;E or #aB N'1 C;0;;; *er yearA
2ose #ortgage0 loans/debts in%rease yor ded%tions
HaB retrn sb#itted every year in "*ril

Sa%aries
"verage #onthly salary N'1 <:0C;; @7 C,IJA
Hhe 8;E best *aid average N'1 DD0I;; @7 :DC;A *er #onth
Hhe 8;E least *aid average N'1 +;0:;; @7 +D,JA *er #onth
No #ini## salaries
$olle%tive @tari!!A agree#ents by se%tor
Wage negotiations yearly @in "*ril-5ayA between trade nions
and Norwegian E#*loyersQ $on!ederation

Wages
$olle%tive @tari!!A agree#ents by se%tor
Wage negotiations yearly @in "*ril-5ayA between trade nions and
Norwegian E#*loyersQ $on!ederation
No national #ini## wages eB%e*t !or:
. "gri%ltral workers: !ro# N'1 88J-8<C @7 8J-8IA *er hor
. $onstr%tion workers: !ro# N'1 8C+ . 8J< @7 8:-+;A *er hor
. ?e*ends on o%%*ation0 skills and eB*erien%e
'ther nskilled labor wages:
. %a N'1 ,; . 8+; @7 8+-8DA *er hor
'ther skilled labor wages:
. %a N'1 88; . 8J; @7 8C-8,A *er hor
&*e%ialist wages: %a N'1 8:; and higher @7 +<-VA *er hor

Is Norway eB*ensiveO

5ost Norwegian !a#ilies are two-in%o#e e%ono#ies

$lothing and !ood *ri%es average !or Ero*e

In%o#e taB is also average !or Ero*e

2osing is eB*ensive @a**roBi#ately C;-J;E o! yor

in%o#eA

LBry ite#s are eB*ensive @hotels0 %ars0 al%ohol0

%igarettes et%A

3"H @sales taBA on so#e ite#s higher than in #any

%ontriesG-

C(S$S
Lood @eB%e*t #eatA and %loths are not so eB*ensive-
"l%ohol and %igarettes are very eB*ensive-
Eating ot in a restarant is also eB*ensive-
'ne beer will %ost abot : ero and a glass o! wine will %ost abot
8; ero in a *b/restarant- 'ne %o!!ee will %ost abot +0J; ero
$ars are very eB*ensive-
4etrol is also eB*ensive0 des*ite the !a%t that Norway is an oil
*rod%ing %ontry- Hhe *ri%es will vary !ro# day to day- 'n
average it %osts abot 80C ero *er liter-
It is eB*ensive to visit Norway as a torist-

What do yo" get 'oryo"r wages5
Norway - !i!th in Ero*e !or %hea* !oodN
D horsQ work 9 8 weekQs s**ly o! !ood
2ow Norwegians s*end their salary:
. hosing0 ele%tri% et%- +IE
. *bli% trans*ort0 %ar +;E
. !ood P hosehold goods 8:E
. %ltre0 leisre 8+E
(N?4:Norway highest s%ore !or in%o#e0 li!e eB*e%tan%y and
living %onditions
&tatisti%s Norway . www-ssb-no

4ri%es in Norway
N'1 E() 4LN
Bread 8; 80+J C0J<
5ilk 8 l ,0J 808: C0<;
Btter 8 kg 8C 80IC D0<C
5ar#elade 8 kg +8 +0D8 ,0J+
$heese 8kg II ,0J, <C0:,
Beer ;0<< 8: +0+C :08D
$o!!ee +J;g 8C 80IC D0<C
Bs ti%ket 'slo ++ +0IC ,0,I
4etrol @8 lA 8; 80+J C0J<
5ineral water 8D 80,, I0+J
$igarettes I; :0I+ <80I+

,&orting a vehic%e
!"st be dec%ared at the border+
6o" can "se yo"r co"ntry %ates7
. i! working te#*orarily @8 year0 %an be eBtended 8 #ore year nder
%ertain %onditionsA
. when %o##ting . and yor !a#ily lives otside o! Norway
kee* a %o*y o! yor work %ontra%t in the %arN
C"sto&s ca%c"%ator at www8to%%8no
,&ort d"ty deends on7
. ty*e/%lass o! %ar
. date o! !irst registration
. *r%hase *ri%e @#ins 3"HA
. engine siMe @%%#A
. weight
. *ower @1WA or $'+ e#issions rating

9(US,NG
,;E own their own residen%e-
"verage #onthly rent: N'1 D ;;;
@7 IIIA *er #onth-
"verage *ri%e - hose with garden:
N'1 8-J . +-J #illion
@7 8,J0;;; . <+C0;;;A
3aries by region0 lo%ation0 siMeG--
EB%e*tions: 'slo and &tavanger
@*ri%es are higherA
Leasing *ro*erties do not always
in%lde a**lian%es @stove0 re!rigerator0
washing #a%hine et%A-

9o"sing ,,
2osing on the Internet:
www-!inn-no
www-net-no/bolig*riser
www-eiendo#snett-no
www-bolignorge-no
www-#eglernett-no
www-bolignett-no
www-Mett-no
www-ssb-no %an give so#e idea
on what %osts to eB*e%tG
@National statisti%s breaA

Where to 'ind :obs
www-nav-no @NorwegianA
www-nav-no/english @jobs *osted in EnglishA
www-eres-no . living and working in!or#ation
www-!inn-no/jobb - jobs database @in NorwegianA
www-stillinger-no . sa#e as above
So %an also get assistan%e at the N"3 &ervi%e $entre 4hone:
;<= 1>> ?? 0@@ @5on-Lri ;::;;-8::;;A
$onta%t the E()E& "dviser in yor area
Bt only abot +J-<; E o! all the jobs available are ever advertisedG
&o thereQs abot C;-J; ;;; va%an%ies ot there0 bt how to !ind the#O


Vacancies A %edige sti%%inger

CV/.ASE

Bob seeking ,
5ake a $rri%l# 3itae @$3A in
English
Ero*ass $3 in%reasingly %o##on
+-< re!eren%e *ersons is %o##on
@who s*eak EnglishNA
Lirst $3 and %over letter0 other
do%#ents i! reFested
Be *re*ared !or this0 have s%anned
%o*ies o! %erti!i%ates0 di*lo#as0
letters o! re!eren%e et% ready to goN

Jobseeking II
$rri%l# 3itae @$3A in English !or Norwegian e#*loyers:
. 4ersonalia Cna&eD addressD honeD e/&ai% etc8E
. Ed%ation Cdescribe short%yE
. Work EB*erien%e Cdescribe short%yE
. $orses and %erti!i%ates
. Langage skills
. Interests
. )e!eren%es C'or&er e&%oyer ; hone n"&bersE
. 4hotos not reF"ired
. 8-+ *ages &a4i&"&
(se or bro%hre WLiving P Working in NorwayQ @last *ageA

Bob seeking ,,,
$o#*any web sites o!ten have
%areer in!or#ation
'n-line $3 registration very
%o##on: be *re*aredN
(se sear%h #otors s%h as
6oogle0 Sellow 4ages @
www-glesider-noA and others to
!ind these
$onta%t e#*loyers dire%tly
(se yor *ersonal network

&tarting yor own bsiness
&tart yor own %o#*anyO
www8bedin8no
. Co&any in'or&ation abo"t how to start a co&any
. 9ow to r"n a co&anyD 'ro& ta4ation to e&%oying eo%e
to bookkeeing as we%% as %inks and 'or&s
www8a%tinn8no
. Co&&on internet orta% 'or "b%ic reorting A how to r"n
and reort 'or a co&any
. *or&s and in'or&ation 'or down%oad
www8innovationnorway8no
. ,nnovation and deve%o&ent o' Norwegian enterrises and
ind"striesD ro:ect '"nding

Arriving in Norway
&ervi%e $entre !or Loreign Workers
www-sa-no
4oli%e @4olitietA
www-*oliti-no
HaB '!!i%e/4o*lation )egister
www-skatteetaten-no
Bank . bring yor *ass*ortN
N"3
www-nav-no
$hild bene!it
La#ily do%tor
$all %entre >CI :8; << :8;

Bob re%ated7
www8nav8no CLabo"r and We%'are organisationE
www8e"res8no CNAV EURES NorwayE
www8e"res8e"roa8e" CEUGs !obi%ity Horta%
St"dy in Norway5
www8st"dyinnorway8no
www8si"8no7 Norwegian centre 'or internationa% cooeration in
higher ed"cation
www8norway8no CList o' co"nties 'or vocationa% ed"cationE
www8sa'h8no Ca"thoriIation o' hea%th ersonne%E
www8nok"t8no CRecognition o' higher ed"cationE
(se!l websites I

(se!l web sites II
New in Norway
www8norway8no CGateway to H"b%ic sectorE
www8visitnorway8co& C$rave%E
www8nyinorge8no CNew in NorwayE
(''icia% ages
www8skatteetaten8no C$a4 card and ersona% n"&berE
www8to%%8no CC"sto&sE
www8"di8no CWork and residence er&itsD registrationE
www8&atti%synet8no C,&ort o' ani&a%s and %antsE







Erik Jrgensen/Innovation Norway
Ve%ko&&en ti% Norge+