Living and Working in Sweden Olof Person olof

Living and Working in Sweden Olof Person olof. person@arbetsformedlingen. se

Kiruna 21 counties 1574 km 45 0. 0 00 km 2 290 municipalities 20 inhabitants / km 2 Umeå Stockholm Göteborg Malmö Ystad

Labour Market Statistics March 2016 • Unemployment rate 7, 8 % • Youth unemployment rate 12, 2% Big differences depending on occupations and regions.

Labour market shortages and surpluses • Shortages: Accountants, Bookkeepers, Dental hygienists, Dentists, Doctors, Electrical engineers and Electrical technicians, Electrical power engineers, GIS engineers, IT architects, Metallurgical technicians, Nurses, Software/systems engineers/developers • See also www. sweden. se • Surpluses: Day-care workers, Receptionists, Nursing assistants, Administration/Office workers, Biologists, Cleaners, Warehousemen, Shop assistants

Working in Sweden • Temporary or Permanent contracts • Probationary employment • Full time, 40 hours per week • 25 days vacation per year (right to take 4 consecutive weeks holiday in the summer) Search your profession at www. lonestatistik. se • No national minimum wage. Collective agreements in most occupations ensure fair wages.

Apply for a job in Sweden • E-mail is frequently used and accepted • Applications should be typewritten in Swedish or English • Do enclose a photo • An application consists of: • - personal letter (no more than 1 page, often less) • - your CV (1 -2 pages) • - References (can also be given at the interview) • You may be asked to present evidence of professional qualifications and diplomas later on • Be pro-active and take your own initiatives

• Always use the same language and phrases as in the ad • If possible, contact the employer in advance in order to get more information on the vacancy, but also to promote yourself • Prepare good questions to the employer as well as good motives why you are the best choise candidate • Always adapt your application to the vacancy • The juicy part first, such as experiance with systems • Focus on what you have done, rather than titles

A typical Swedish work place • “Flat” organisations • Team work • You must be able to take initiatives and adapt to new situations • ”Du” – first name basis – informality! • Gender equality • Fika –start building your coffien tolerance

Language skills - the main obstacle foreigners to find a job • In Sweden we speak Swedish • Most Swedes speak fairly good english • The Scandinavian languages are similar – Swedish, Norwegian and Danish • English skills are important in many professions • Learn Swedish • Your competitors for the jobs are fluent in Swedish • If you are looking forward to a future in Sweden, basic Swedish is a good investment in yourself

Taxes Municipal tax average 31 %. Additional state income tax + 20% of the income over 372100 SEK + 25% of the income over 532 700 SEK. (per annum) Example: 20 000 SEK net income of 15 832 SEK 30 000 SEK net income of 22 963 SEK (per month) Tax deductions includes social insurance and pension fees, but not unemployment benefits. www. skatteverket. se

Unemployment benefits • Are not a part of the Social Benefits scheme. • Consist of two parts: 1. Basic insurance (Alfakassan): For all workers after a qualifying period: No membership requirement, max 320 SEK/day 2. Voluntary insurance: For members of an Unemployment Insurance Fund. After the qualification period, 80% of earlier income, max 680 SEK/day • 300 days, 5 days per week. Tax will be deducted. www. iaf. se

Find a job www. arbetsformedlingen. se Omstart For English speakers: www. thelocal. se/jobs www. jobsinstockholm. com www. xpats. nu www. iagora. com Swedish newspapers www. onlinenewspapers. com/sweden. htm

Other ways to find a job www. linkedin. com (Growing community for professionals) Company web sites www. gulasidorna. se www. foretagsfakta. se Business-sweden Starting up a business www. verksamt. se CV database www. arbetsformedlingen. se (Swedish) www. eures. europa. eu

Graduate positions Mainly in international companies Shifting towards Linked In • • SCA Volvo Group ABB Volvo Cars

Bienvido a Suecia!

Check www. eures. se for further information Thank you for your attention!