Living and working in Sweden Clary Viderström EURES

Living and working in Sweden Clary Viderström EURES Adviser Working in Västervik – Living in Vimmerby clary. viderstrom@arbetsformedlingen. se

What is EURES? • EURopean Employment Services • A network of Public Employment Services and partners in the EU/EEA and Switzerland, • Objective: working to increase and facilitate international mobility. EURES provides service to jobseekers and employers. • More than 750 EURES advisers in Europe, 40 in Sweden. • http: //eures. europa. eu

Facts about Sweden • Sweden is the third largest country in EU 25 and has 96 000 km coastline. • 9. 3 million inhabitants, 85% live in the southern parts. • Sweden has been a member of EU since 1995. • Currency: Swedish Crown (SEK) 10. 15 SEK = 1 € (Aug 2009) www. sweden. se

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

Right to work in Sweden Citizens Residence right card Nordic - EU/EEA* Residence permit Work permit - - - X (X) X Family members Swiss X Non-EU, longterm resident X Non-EU * workers, self-employed, students, ”sufficient funds” X

Language skills • In Sweden we speak Swedish • The Scandinavian languages are similar – Swedish, Norwegian and Danish • English skills are important in many professions • Language skills in labour shortages and surpluses

Labour Market Statistics August 2009 • 73, 7 % of men and 67, 9 % of women aged 15 -74 are in employment. Good child care facilities make this possible. • Unemployment rate 6, 4 % • Unemployment rate among youngsters 11, 1 %

Labour market shortages and surpluses • Shortages: Specialists in health care, Pre-school teachers, Teachers in vocational subjects, Chefs, Dentists, Crane operators, Accountants, Engineers in building and construction, IT-specialists, qualified metal workers (heating and ventilation). • Surpluses: Motor Vehicle operators, Operators (metal, rubber, plastic), Machine operators, Journalists, Office clerks, Telephone operators/receptionists, Biologists, Photographers, Gardeners

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) • Average wage: SEK 27, 500 (men) SEK 22, 800 (women) • No national minimum wage. Collective agreements in most occupations ensure fair wages.

Find a job • Public Employment Services Platsbanken and Söka jobb / Länkar www. arbetsformedlingen. se • EURES www. eures. europa. eu • Swedish newspapers www. onlinenewspapers. com/sweden. htm • Adecco • Lernia • Manpower • Proffice • Company websites www. adecco. se www. lernia. se www. manpower. se www. proffice. se

Other ways to a job Open application www. gulasidorna. se www. foretagsfakta. se CV database • www. arbetsformedlingen. se (Swedish) • www. eures. europa. eu

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) • You may be asked to present evidence of professional qualifications and diplomas later on. • Recognition of foreign diplomas

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

Taxes • Council Tax between 26 -34 %, average 31 %. • State Tax + 20% of the income over 367 600 SEK + 25% of the income over 526 200 SEK (per annum) Example: 20 000 SEK net income of 15 471 SEK 30 000 SEK net income of 22 458 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

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 Temporary parental benefit: 60 days per child and year

Child allowance and child care • • 1 child 2 children 3 children 4 children 1 050 SEK/month 2 200 SEK/month 3 604 SEK/month 5 514 SEK/month Municipalities are obliged to provide childcare to children aged 1 -12 years. “Maxtaxa”

Educational system Universities and university colleges Advanced vocational education (KY) Age 18 - Upper secondary school Age 16 -20, 3 years Compulsory school Age 7 -16, 9 years www. skolverket. se Pre-school class Age 1 -5, volontary Age 6, 1 year

Accommodation • Rent an apartment or house 1 bedroom apartment, average rent 4, 595 SEK/month, 68 m 2 • “Buy” an apartment • Buy a house Accommodation costs vary greatly

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 • 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 • Between April – September Swedes become sun worshippers • Internet – VERY important in the Swedish society

SWEDEN

Thank you for your attention! Clary Viderström clary. viderstrom@arbetsformedlingen. se Brochure: Do you want to work in Sweden? www. arbetsformedlingen. se under Other languages