Living and working in Sweden Ivar Jönsson EURES Adviser International Employment Office Sweden Senast uppdaterad 2010-09-20

Kiruna Umeå Stockholm Göteborg Malmö 9.3 million inhabitants 450.000 km2 1600 km 20 inhabitants / km2 Stockholm Göteborg Malmö Ystad

Some facts about Sweden Unemployment rate 7,8 % ( Sept 2010) Good child care facilities make high employment rate possible. Retirement; 65 year Currency: Swedish Crown (SEK) 9.25 SEK = 1 € (Oct 2010) www.sweden.se

Labour market shortages and surpluses Shortages: Specialists in health care, Pre-school teachers, Teachers in vocational subjects, Engineers Electrical Power, Sheet-metal workers in building and construction. Cooks Surpluses: Day-care workers, Receptionists, Nursing assistants, Resource persons for students with special needs, Biologists, Janitors, Warehousemen, Shop assistants, Prep cooks and restaurant cashiers

Working in Sweden Temporary or Permanent contracts 6 months probationary employment Full time, 40 hours per week 25 days vacation per year (right to take 4 consecutive weeks holiday in the summer) No national minimum wage. Collective agreements in most occupations ensure fair wages.

Find a job Public Employment Services www.arbetsformedlingen.se EURES www.eures.europa.eu Swedish newspapers www.onlinenewspapers.com/sweden.htm Adecco www.adecco.se Lernia www.lernia.se Manpower www.manpower.se Proffice www.proffice.se Open applications www.gulasidorna.se www.foretagsfakta.se

Other ways to a job

Apply for a job in Sweden E-mail is frequently used and accepted. Applications should be typewritten in Swedish or English. Generally you do not 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)

Recognition of foreign diplomas Regulated professions – NARIC The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education www.hsv.se Health care professions www.socialstyrelsen.se NRP (Vocational education and training) www.senrp.se

Public Employment Services When you are a resident in Sweden Service through: Internet www.arbetsformedlingen.se (24 hour service) by telephone via Customer Service Centres (7 day service) +46 (0) 771-416 416 The Public Employment Office – “Arbetsförmedlingen” (over 300 offices)

First step: LANGUAGE COURSE ! www.si.se but… without speaking Swedish… …is it very difficult! First step: LANGUAGE COURSE ! www.si.se Free courses: Swedish for immigrants

Salaries some examples SEK per month (Gross) Average Car mechanics Salaries some examples SEK per month (Gross) Average Car mechanics 20 000 Med. Doctor 45 000 Welder 22 000 Nurse 24 000 Construction worker 25 000 Civ. Engineer 35 000 Cook 20 000 Preschool teacher 22 500 Shop assistant 20 000 Waiter/waitress 18 000

Taxes (2010) 1 Euro = 9,25 SKR, 10 000 Skr = 1080 Euro Gross Netto (SEK / Month) % Tax 15.000 12 070 19,4 20.000 15.650 20,7 25.000 19,230 23,0 30.000 22.680 24,4 40.000 27.990 30,0 50 000 32 660 34,6 Tax deductions includes social insurance and pension fees, but not unemployment benefits.

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. Cost 150-300 SEK per month. 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

Health care and sickness benefits Patient fee 100 – 300 SEK Children (< age 12) free Hospital fee (> age 20) max. 80 SEK/day Medicine (prescriptions) max. 1 800 SEK/year Sick pay/sickness benefit 80 % of the income* First day = no pay

Family benefits Parental benefit: 390 days with 80 % of income (max. 910 SEK/day) + 90 days with 180 SEK/day to be shared equally between both parents (apart from 60 days) + 10 days to the father of new-born baby Child allowance and child care 1 child; 1 050 SEK/month - 4 children 5 514 SEK/month Municipalities are obliged to provide childcare to children aged 1 -12 years.

Accommodation Rent an apartment or house “Buy” an apartment Buy a house Accommodation costs vary greatly

A typical Swedish work place ”Du” – first name basis – informality! “Flat” organisations Team work You must be able to take initiatives and adapt to new situations. Gender equality Strong Trade unions

Sweden and Swedes Fresh air, clean water, untouched wilderness, open space – “Right of Public Access” Personnummer! 650604-6435 “Fikapaus” Shoes off indoors “Systembolaget”

Sweden and Swedes Tend to avoid conflicts… Sweden “closes” for the summer Internet – VERY important in the Swedish society

Thank you for your attention! Working in Sweden; Useful addresses