Living and Working in Sweden

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Living and Working in Sweden
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Living and Working in Sweden
Ylva Papp EURES Adviser Sundsvall ylva.papp_at_arbets
formedlingen.se Linda Daugaard EURES
Adviser Uppsala linda.daugaard_at_arbetsformedlingen.
se
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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

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Kiruna
Kiruna
21 Counties
Umeå
1574 km
20 inhabitants / km2
450.000 km2
Stockholm
290 Municipalities
Göteborg
Malmö
Ystad
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Right to work in Sweden
Citizens Residence right Residence card Residence permit Work permit
Nordic - - - -
EU/EEA X
Family members X (X)
Swiss X
Non-EU, long-term resident X
Non-EU X
workers, self-employed, students, sufficient
funds
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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

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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 2,9 (April 2008)
• Unemployment rate 6,0 (age 15-74)

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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.

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Finding a Job

• Public Employment ServicesPlatsbanken and
• Söka jobb / Länkar www.arbetsformedlingen.se
• EURES www.eures.europa.eu
• Swedish newspapers www.onlinenewspapers.com/swed
  en.htm
• Adecco www.adecco.se
• Lernia www.lernia.se
• Manpower www.manpower.se
• Proffice www.proffice.se
• Company websites

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Other ways to a job

• Open application
• www.gulasidorna.se
• www.foretagsfakta.se
• CV database
• www.arbetsformedlingen.se (Swedish)
• www.eures.europa.eu

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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

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Public Employment Serviceswhen you are a
resident in Sweden

• Service through
• Internet www.arbetsformedlingen.se (24 hour
  service)
• by telephone via Customer Service Centres (7 day
  service) 0771-416 416
• The Public Employment Office
  Arbetsförmedlingen (over 300 offices)

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Taxes

• Council Tax between 26-34 , average 31 .
• State Tax 20 of the income over 328 800
  SEK 25 of the income over 495 000 SEK
• Example 20 000 SEK ? net income of 14 997 SEK
• 30 000 SEK ? net income of 21 366 SEK
• Tax deductions includes social insurance and
  pension fees, but not unemployment benefits
• www.skatteverket.se

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Unemployment Benefits

• Are not a part of the Social Benefits scheme.
• Consist of two parts
• Basic insurance (Alfakassan) For all workers
  after a qualifying period No membership
  requirement, max 320 SEK/day
• 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

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Health care and sickness benefits
Patient fee 100 300 SEK Children lt 20
years free Hospital fee max. 80
SEK/day Medicine (prescriptions) max. 1 800
SEK/year Sick pay/sickness benefit 80 of the
income 21 654 SEK/day First day no
pay income lt 307 500 SEK/year

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Family benefits

• Parental benefit
• 390 days with 80 of income (max. 872 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 60 days per child and year

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Child allowance and Child care

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

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

• Rent an apartment or house
• 1 bedroom apartment, average rent 4,595
  SEK/month, 68 m2
• Buy an apartment
• Buy a house
• Accommodation costs vary greatly

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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
1 kg roast beef 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 2,38 2,48 3,08
1 kg coffee 5,15 5,53 6,27 8,53 9,35
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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

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Sweden and Swedes

• Fresh air, clean water, untouched wilderness,
  open space Right of Public Access
• Personnummer! 650604-6435
• Fikapaus
• Shoes off indoors
• Systembolaget

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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
• Normal

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Thank You for Your Attention!
Brochure Looking for work in Sweden?
www.arbetsformedlingen.se under Other languages