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Living and Working in Sweden

Living and Working in Sweden. Lena Westling Seljee EURES Adviser Göteborg lena.westling-seljee@arbetsformedlingen.se. What is EURES?. EUR opean E mployment S ervices A network of Public Employment Services and partners in the EU/EEA and Switzerland,

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Living and Working in Sweden

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  1. Living and Working in Sweden Lena Westling Seljee EURES Adviser Göteborg lena.westling-seljee@arbetsformedlingen.se

  2. 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 700 EURES advisers in Europe, 40 in Sweden. • http://eures.europa.eu

  3. 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

  4. Kiruna Kiruna 21 Counties Umeå 1574 km 20 inhabitants / km2 450.000 km2 Stockholm 290 Municipalities Göteborg Malmö Ystad

  5. Right to work in Sweden * workers, self-employed, students, ”sufficient funds”

  6. 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

  7. 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 %

  8. Shortages2008 • 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

  9. Shortages2008 • LGV truck drivers and lorry drivers • Truck mechanics • Machine engineers • Construction engineers • Electricians • Welders • Machine tool operators (NC/CNC) • Chefs

  10. 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.

  11. Finding a Job • Public Employment ServicesPlatsbanken and • Söka jobb / Länkar 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 • Company websites

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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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)

  16. Taxes • Council Tax between 26-34 %, average 31 %. • State Tax + 20% of the income over 340 900 SEK + 25% of the income over 507 100 SEK • Example: 20 000 SEK  net income of 15 221 SEK • 30 000 SEK  net income of 21 833 SEK • Tax deductions includes social insurance and pension fees, but not unemployment benefits • www.skatteverket.se

  17. 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

  18. Health care and sickness benefits Patient fee 100 – 300 SEK Children < 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 < 307 500 SEK/year

  19. 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 days per child and year

  20. 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”

  21. 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 class Age 6, 1 year Pre-school Age 1-5, volontary

  22. 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

  23. Food Costs (€)

  24. 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

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

  26. 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

  27. Thank You for Your Attention! lena.westling-seljee@arbetsformedlingen.se Brochure: Looking for work in Sweden?www.arbetsformedlingen.se under Other languages

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