Living and Working in Sweden David Cluer Falun

Living and Working in Sweden David Cluer (Falun) david. cluer@arbetsformedlingen. se Peter Holm (Stockholm) peter. holm@arbetsformedlingen. se EURES Advisers

Facts About Sweden • Sweden is the third largest country in EU 25 and has 96 000 km coastline. • 9 million inhabitants, 85% live in the southern parts. • Sweden has been a member of EU since 1995. • Currency: Swedish Crown (SEK) 9. 30 SEK = 1 € (May 2008) www. sweden. se

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

Right to work in Sweden Citizens Residence right card permit Nordic - - - EU/EEA* X X (X) Family members Swiss - X Non-EU, long- Work permit X term resident Non-EU • workers, self-employed, students, ”with sufficient funds” • NB! No special restrictions for citizens of recent member states. X

Language skills • 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 • 80, 8 % of men and 76, 2 % of women aged 16 -64 are in employment. Good child care facilities make this possible. • Unemployment rate 5, 2 % (July 2008) • Statistics from the Public Employment Services (July 2008) • Unemployment rate 2, 9 % • Subsidized employment 1, 7 % • Labour market programmes 1, 3 %

Shortages 2008 • Medical doctors • Nurses (emergency, operation, psychiatric care and geriatric) • Pre-school teachers • Upper secondary school teachers, vocational subjects • Teachers, for students with special needs • Computer specialists, programmers and systems developers

Shortages 2008 • LGV truck drivers and lorry drivers • Truck mechanics • Machine engineers • Construction engineers • Electricians • Welders • Machine tool operators (NC/CNC) • Chefs

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 26, 600 (men) SEK 22, 000 (women) • No national minimum wage. Collective agreements in most occupations ensure fair wages.

Finding 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 www. adecco. se www. lernia. se www. manpower. se www. proffice. se • Company websites

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

Applying for Work 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

Food Costs (€) Sweden Holland France Germany Norway 1 kg butter 4, 72 5, 09 6, 60 5, 13 7, 37 1 l milk 0, 77 0, 79 1, 03 0, 95 1, 49 1 kg cheese 8, 27 8, 40 12, 23 9, 85 10, 82 1 kg chicken 3, 22 4, 27 3, 58 4, 96 7, 65 13, 87 17, 80 16, 71 29, 74 22, 13 1 kg bread 2, 35 1, 48 4, 36 1, 78 3, 05 1 kg potatoes 1, 32 0, 66 1, 29 0, 99 1, 11 1 kg apples 2, 47 1, 38 2, 48 3, 08 1 kg coffee 5, 15 5, 53 6, 27 8, 53 9, 35 1 kg roast beef

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

Thank You for Your Attention! David Cluer david. cluer@arbetsformedlingen. se Peter Holm peter. holm@arbetsformedlingen. se Brochure: Do you want to work in Sweden? www. arbetsformedlingen. se under Other languages