Sweden : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

The economic recession of 2008/09 has had an effect on the Swedish labour market, reducing the amount of jobs available and raising unemployment. However, this is expected to improve from 2010 meaning there may be opportunities for UK graduates. This will be particularly true in the areas of teaching, healthcare, IT and construction where it is reported that Swedish employers have difficulties in finding qualified staff. 

• Typical problems encountered: some areas are well staffed with home-based graduates and competition is fierce for any job opportunities that become available. This includes child care, sales and care positions. Sweden in general also has a high population of graduates, which also increases competition for jobs.
• How to improve your chances: Swedish employers are looking for highly qualified and experienced graduates so developing vocational or technical skills at graduate level will improve your chances of success. It is also wise to get some employment experience in your home country first. The best prospects are with international companies that have a base in the UK.
• Language requirements: although English is widely spoken, you will have difficulty finding employment if you are unable to speak and write in Swedish. Details of Swedish language courses are available from the Swedish Institute , and Study in Sweden has a list of online resources. Self-study courses are also available through Eurotalk Interactive  and Key Languages .

Where can I work?

• Major industries: services (information technology (IT), telecommunications, biotechnology), manufacturing (wood pulp and paper products), machinery and metal products (iron and steel), and the automotive industry.
• Recent growth areas: consulting, biotechnology industry and pharmaceutical manufacturing, retail and green (environmental) exports.
• Industries in decline: the traditional industries of steel, paper and pulp have fallen behind IT and telecommunications.
• Shortage occupations: pre-school teachers (for pupils aged one to six), engineers, IT professionals, accountants, and various healthcare professions including doctors, dentists, midwives, hygienists and nurses.
• Major companies: Astrazeneca, Saab, IKEA, Ericsson, Electrolux, Gambro, Scania, Skansa, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Tetra Pak.
• Search for more companies: Kompass , a worldwide business directory searchable by country and product/service, Swedish Chambers of Commerce , Europages and Wikipedia - List of Companies in Sweden . 
• Major cities: Stockholm (capital), Gothenburg, Malmö and Uppsala.

What's it like working in Sweden?

• Average working hours: the maximum legal working week is 40 hours.
• Holidays: 25 days' paid holiday per year is the legal minimum.
• Average graduate starting salary: starting salaries vary depending on the occupation and location. Sweden has no statutory minimum wage and new employees are usually able to negotiate their starting salary.
• Tax rates: Sweden is usually reckoned to have one of the highest rates of taxation in the world. A foreign national will be liable to tax if they are regarded as being resident in Sweden, have essential connections to Sweden or are present in Sweden for a period of more than 183 days in a tax year. Individuals pay municipal and national income tax. Those earning less than SEK 380,200 pay municipal tax only, which ranges from 29-34%. Those earning more than SEK 380,200 pay national tax at a rate of 20% as well as municipal tax. Anyone earning over SEK 538,800 pays an additional 5% in national tax.
• Working practices and customs: trade unions are a well-established part of employment in Sweden and most workers belong to one. Conditions of employment are decided between employers and trade unions by collective agreement. With regard to etiquette, business meetings are formal and punctuality is expected. The workplace in general is usually quite informal with dress code being casual and hours being flexible.