Lysbilde 1

Living and Working in Norway

Nils-Erik Bjrholt/Innovation Norway Johan Wildhagen/Innovation Norway Erik Jrgensen/Innovation Norway

NAV EURESNorway11IntroductionNAV EURES

Labour and Welfare Administration Job Centre National Insurance Welfare office

EURopean Employment Services- Advisors in 31 countries- Job market and job search- Living and working- Recruitment assistance www.nav.no

www.eures.no/english

22In Norway, the job centre, national insurance and local welfare offices are gathered in one organisation with local offices around the country look for the logo. As EURES advisers we work with labour mobility helping people like yourselves, giving presentations about living and working in other countries and helping employers to find candidates for vacant positions. EURES Portugal has arranged this job fair.There are 34 advisers in Norway, just under 800 in the EU and EFTANorwayCurrency Norwegian kroner, NOKConstitutional monarchy, King Harald VPrime Minister Ms Erna SolbergConservative government

1 = NOK 8,20

Characteristics-30 to +30CBright summers/Midnight SunDark winters/Polar Night Northern Lights (aurora borealis)Natural varietyOutdoor cultureHigh standard of livingExtensive welfare systemSafe working conditions

GeographyPopulation 5,063,709 (Jan. 2013)600,922 immigrants (12,2%)(Poland, Lithuania, Pakistan, Sweden, Irak, Somalia, Denmark and Germany)19 countiesCapital Oslo 626,953 inhabitants

Biggest cities:

Bergen 270,351Trondheim 180,280Stavanger129,191Kristiansand 84,476

NorwayLength 1750 km432 km at the widest, 6 km at the narrowest25,148 kms of coastline7th largest in Europe16 persons per km2

LanguageTwo official forms:Standard Norwegian (bokml)New Norwegian (nynorsk)Regional dialectsClose to Swedish and DanishNorwegians speak English wellMost employers require Norwegian or a Scandinavian languageNorwegian courses held in most townsFree language courses not offered, but is not expensiveSeveral online courses in Norwegian is offered

8Unlike Portuguese, Norwegian is not a world language. However, if you learn one language, you get two for free gaining access to a linguistic region of some 18 million people. Scandinavians understand each other well.How to understand a Norwegian

Flat structure Who is the boss?Conformity/Equality/No special treatmentEnjoying space, keeping distance, privacyNot the most impulsive ones need timeCold lunchesRude?Dress code

Labour Market StatisticsUnemployment: 2.6% (October -13); 73,100 persons (lowest in Rogaland with 1,9% and highest in Oslo and Finnmark with 3,4%)In October 14, 233 vacancies were advertisedAnother 15,000-20,000 jobs not advertisedThere is still a need for workforce in several sectors, but the need is less urgent than before.

10Unemployment is low by any standards. But last summer it was half of what you see.SURPLUSESNorway has a surplus of:Economists, marketingArchitectsOffice staffUnskilled workers

SHORTGESCompanies and institutions need: Engineers (especially mechanical, structural, electro, automation, hydraulic, piping engineers)Pre-school educatorsTeachers (especially in science subjects and maths)Nurses (great demand)Medical doctorsClinical psychologistsPharmasistsBus drivers (in certain regions), taxi driversHair dressersCooks and waiters

COMPANIES NEEDING ENGINEERSwww.oilcareers.comhttp://offshore.no/international/www.petro.noAker Solutions (akersolutions.com)FMC Technologies (fmctechnologies.com)Statoil (www.statoil.com)National Oilwell Varco (www.nov.com)Kvrner (www.kvaerner.com) Kongsberg Gruppen (www.kongsberg.com)Aibel (www.aibel.com)Fabricom (www.fabricom.no)Subsea7 (www.subsea7.com)www.nodeproject.no (business cluster 57 companies)Roxar (www.roxar.no)

13These are some of the norms of working life in Norway.A standard job contract is required by law to state:Start date, place and type of work, pay and pay dates, holiday, weekly work hours, probationary or trial period, and end date if any.Most needed engineersPetrolium engineersSubsea engineersDrilling engineersPiping engineersMechanical engineersHydraulic engineersNaval ArchitectsStructural engineersMachine design engineers

No demand for environmentalengineers and chemical engineersElectrical engineersStress analystsSteel calculationElectronic and computer engineersInstrument engineersAutomation engineersMechatronics/robotics

Less demand for civil engineers with no experience with steel structures

Working ConditionsWritten contract6 months probationary periodSalary paid once a month Employer draws tax from your monthly pay37,5 working hours per weekShift workers have 35,5 hours working week. Maximum 40 hours per week.

15These are some of the norms of working life in Norway.A standard job contract is required by law to state:Start date, place and type of work, pay and pay dates, holiday, weekly work hours, probationary or trial period, and end date if any.Working ConditionsHoliday: 25 working days per year30 days for employees over the age of 60Holiday pay normally paid out in the month of JuneHoliday pay 12% of gross pay for trade union members10,2% for non trade union members.Holiday pay is accumulatedThe working environment act. www.arbeidstilsynet.no (available in English)

16Holiday pay is accumulated. The first year of work you will have the right to four weeks of unpaid holiday, and the following year you will be able to take five weeks of paid holiday.In June most people receive their holiday pay, which is roughly equal to one months gross pay Most jobholders in Norway are members of a union and we generally recommend membership. The fee is tax deductibleTaxesIf you work in Norway for a Norwegian employer, you pay income tax to NorwayAverage income tax is 28% (24.5%)The National Insurance contribution is 7.8%.Deductions!EU citizens are entitled to a deduction called standardfradrag in the two first years (10% or max NOK 40,000 per year)House mortgage or debts etc. increase your deductionsTax return form submitted every year in April

17What is drawn from your salary every month typically 36% and around 45% for high wages includes your national insurance contributionNational Insurance IWhat is covered through the National Insurance?Sickness Benefit 100% pay first year66% second year if still in active treatmentUnemployment BenefitAbout 63% of pay for a maximum of 2 yearsChild birth benefit 12 months with 80% pay or 10 months, 100% payPaternity leave 14 weeks

18Sickness and unemployment benefit rights are accumulated, from 8 weeks of full-time work for unemployment benefit to 12 weeks for sickness benefit.National Insurance IIWhat is covered through the National Insurance?Old-age pension Retirement age in Norway is 67 yearsDisability benefitFree hospital treatmentFree dental treatment for under-18sFree of charge schools and universities

National Insurance IIIWhat is covered through the National Insurance?Child benefitAges 0 to 18: NOK 970 (120) per monthSingle-parent benefitsCash benefit KontantsttteAges 1 to 2 years:From 13 months to 18 months, NOK 5000 per month (617 euro)From 19 months to 23 months, NOK 3303 per month (408 euro) You have to apply for these benefits at NAV.

20The child benefit is automatic unless the child is born outside of Norway. Single-parent benefits are income-support, and depend on each case.The cash benefit was introduced to give parents a choice of either sending their children to kindergarten, or caring for them at home during their early years.COSTS Food (except meat) and cloths are not so expensive.Alcohol and cigarettes are very expensive.Eating out in a restaurant is also expensive.One beer will cost about 8,50 euro and a glass of wine will cost about 10 euro in a pub/restaurant. One coffee will cost about 3 euroCars are very expensive.Petrol is also expensive, despite the fact that Norway is an oil producing country. The prices will vary from day to day. On average it costs about 1,85 euro per liter.It is expensive to visit Norway as a tourist.

What do you get for your wages?Prices for foodstuffs are on average 62% higher in Norway compared with the average prices in EU-countries. Milk, cheese, eggs and meat are 65% more expensive in Norway compared with the average in Europe.Fish and other seafood are not so expensive.6 hours work = 1 weeks supply of foodHow Norwegians spend their salary:housing, electric etc. 27% public transport, car 20%food & household goods 18%culture, leisure 12%UNDP:Norway highest score for income, duration of life, and living conditions.

22Average PricesNOKEURBread, 750 g 283,45Milk, 1l 182,20Butter, 250 g 172,60Cheese, 1 kg 9011Beer, 0,33 l 192,35Coffee, 250 g 202,50Potatoes, 1 kg 141,70Coca Cola, 1,5 l 232,80Beef, 1 kg20022527,80Sausage, 1 kg10012,35Salmon, 1 kg 8510,50Fresh Shrimps, 1 kg 12916NOKEURBig Mac menu, large 9011CD17021Cinema ticket 9011Newspaper 20 2,45Magazine 59 7,38Chocolate, Mars12,50 1,56Hair cut, women45056,25Hair cut, men40050Bus ticket, Oslo 25 3,13Cigarettes, 1 pack 9011

AccommodationMost Norwegian people own their own house. About 90% of couples living together own their own house/apartment. About 67% of young couples and single parents own their own house/apartment.

The average rent for a house/apartment is NOK 6000 ( 740) per month. Oslo and Stavanger are more expensive.

You can get your own house with a garden for about NOK 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 ( 247,000-432,000). Prices vary depending on location and size. Exception Oslo and Stavanger.

HomesHomes on the Internetwww.finn.nowww.net.no/boligpriser www.eiendomsnett.no www.bolignorge.no www.meglernett.no www.bolignett.no www.zett.nowww.ssb.no (National statistics bureau)

Homes

SalariesThe average wage in Norway is among the highest in EuropeAverage monthly salary NOK 36,700 ( 4530)The 10% best paid average NOK 71,400 ( 8814) per monthThe 10% least paid average NOK 20,600( 2543) per monthThe average salary in the oil and gas sector is NOK 59,700 (7370) per monthNo minimum salaries, but collective agreements by sectorWage negotiations once a year (in April-May) between the trade unions and the Norwegian EmployersConfederation

Where to find jobswww.nav.no (Norwegian)www.nav.no/english (jobs posted in English)www.eures.nowww.finnjobb.nowww.stillinger.no www.indeed.com

NAV Service Centre Phone: +47 800 33 166(Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00)

Contact the EURES Adviser in your area

Work/Residence permitsNorway is not a member of the European Union, but a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).

All EU/EEA citizens have the right to take up work in Norway

Portuguese citizens do not need a work permit and can begin work the day they arrive in Norway

Work/Residence permitsRegistration required within 3 months at the local police station , or as soon as you have received a job contract. This is a formality

You can stay in Norway for 6 months as a jobseeker, but have to register with the police after 3 months.When you have a jobcontract you must register at https://selfservice.udi.no/, print out and bring it with you to the local police staion or to SUA (www.sua.no). Also bring:ID-card/passport A certificate of residence (lease)Job contract

Arriving in NorwayPolice (Politiet) www.politi.noTax Office/ National Registry www.skatteetaten.noBank NAV www.nav.no Child benefitFamily doctorCall centre +47 810 33 810SUA (www.sua.no)Service Centre for foreign workers (Oslo and Stavanger)

3232Oslo, Stavanger and Kirkenes in the north have Service Centres for foreign workers. These are visiting centresAs soon as you arrive in any new country there are formalities to take care of as soon as you can. We have a description of these items available after the presentation.Web sites of interestwww.euresenglish.noPortal - living and working in Norwaywww.nav.no Job data base, national insurancewww.udi.noDirectorate of Immigrationwww.skatteetaten.noTax officewww.arbeidstilsynet.noLabour Inspection Authoritywww.toll.noCustomswww.nokut.noThe Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Educationwww.sak.noThe Norwegian Registration Authority for Health Personnel

3333We have reached the end of our presentation. Here are some useful sites. We also have a good list of information sites available on paper for you.NORTHERN NORWAY

NORWAY - NATURE

WINTER IN NORWAY

CONTACTCVs and requests can be sent toeures@nav.no(All EURES advisers in Norway will then have access to your CV)

ELI SKAUG SYVERTSEN, EURES adviser, Norwayeli.skaug.syvertsen@nav.no

Erik Jrgensen/Innovation Norway Sejam bem-vindos!3838