How is Norway Job Market in 2023?
It will be interesting to check out the jobs outlook in Norway with due analysis of the job market position in 2022. Here are some key observations that can indicate what could be in store for those who are enthusiastic to migrate to Norway and pursue their jobs there.
The general picture of Norway job market suggests that the country has recovered significantly from the losses it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Right from spring 2021, considerable growth in jobs was seen. After a brief dip at the beginning of 2022, since March 2022, the job market has grown well.
As of August 2022, there were 3.7 million jobs in Norway and it’s improving at a progressive rate. The top job sectors that are seeing growth in jobs in August 2022 are
Job Sector |
No. of jobs |
Real estate, professional, scientific and technical activities |
189,402 |
Administrative and support service |
170,157 |
IT |
115,667 |
Construction |
256,198 |
Manufacture |
224,671 |
Wholesale and retail trade |
389,130 |
Education |
257,899 |
Human health and social work activities |
676,559 |
The counties that have the highest number of jobs are:
County |
No. of jobs |
Oslo |
559,211 |
Viken |
615,545 |
Vestland |
363,607 |
Rogaland |
287,681 |
In Q3 of 2022, the top industrial sectors with the greatest number of job vacancies are:
Industry |
No. of job vacancies |
Administrative and support service activities |
11,000 |
Information and communication |
6,400 |
Residential care activities |
9,700 |
Accommodation and food service activities |
5,500 |
Professional, scientific and technical activities |
6,600 |
Social work activities without accommodation |
6,500 |
Construction |
7,300 |
Education |
7,400 |
Human health activities |
7,600 |
In Q3 of 2022, the following are the municipalities that have the highest number of jobs.
Municipality |
No. of jobs |
Nordkapp |
1,879 |
Seljord |
1,785 |
Ullensaker |
31,894 |
Gjerstad |
1,154 |
Aurland |
1,546 |
Lunner |
2,417 |
Hurdal |
1,134 |
As for GDP trends in Norway, there was an advancement of 1.5 percent in Q3 of 2022. The GDP growth in Q2 of 2022 was 1.3 percent. The GDP growth rate in Q3 marked the biggest expansion in four quarters.
The annual GDP growth rate was 2.5 percent in September 2022. The projection of the GDP growth rate is around 0.50 percent in 2023.
In Q3 of 2023, the unemployment rate was 3.2 percent. In Q2 of 2022, it was 3.3 percent. The Q3 unemployment rate was the lowest since the Q4 of 2012.
A normal working week in Norway is 34 hours. Norway’s standard working hours are in general between 8/9 am to 4/5 pm. These hours include an unpaid lunch break.
Workers are required to have a minimum off period of 11 hours in between shifts. If a worker works more than 9 hours a day, or 40 hours a week, such work will be treated as overtime. Such overtime has to be compensated.
Overtime rules are strict in Norway. No employee is permitted to work more than 200 hours per year. As per the law of Norway, compensation for overtime work has to be at least 140 percent of the normal wage rate of the employee.
Also, no worker is allowed to work night shifts or on Sundays. The only exception could be when it’s a necessary one in their line of work. The night shift is anytime between 9 pm and 6 am.
Jobs outlook in Norway, 2023
Jobs outlook in Norway for 2023 can be understood in continuation of the job trends in 2022. There’s a huge requirement for skilled foreign workers in the following occupations:
Job role |
Average annual salary (in Krones) |
IT |
|
Software Developer |
845,750 |
Software Programmer |
567,000 |
Engineering |
|
Mechanical Engineer |
545,000 |
Civil Engineer |
561,000 |
Railway Engineer |
509,780 |
Healthcare |
|
Biotechnologist |
927,300 |
Nurse |
537,700 |
Pharmacist |
777,000 |
Education |
|
Teacher |
561,000 |
Apply for a Norway work visa
Step 1: Choose your work visa
There are different types of work visas issued by Norway.
Norway seasonal work visa
You can apply for this visa if get selected to be employed in a temporary job in Norway for a specific duration of a year. It’s necessary that you must be offered a job role to be eligible to apply for this visa type. The verification by NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) is necessary for the job that you are joining under the visa.
Norway job-seeker visa
Skilled workers who have completed their higher education in Norway can apply for this type of visa. The Norwegian authorities will permit you to live and look for a job in Norway and a job offer isn’t mandatory.
Vocational training and research visa
Students who take part in training as part of their courses for higher studies or for researchers who fund their own work and aren’t hired by any enterprise in Norway can apply for this visa.
Work visa for artists
This category of visas is meant for performers, musicians, and artists slated to perform in Norway. The maximum period of stay allowed under this visa is 14 days.
Norway working holiday visa
Youngsters aged under 31 years can apply for this type of visa. They must be nationals of the following countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- New Zealand
With this visa, you can work and live in Norway for not more than a period of one year.
Step 2: Get your qualifications recognized
If you have educational qualifications from your country of origin, get them checked for compatibility with the required qualifications for your job in Norway.
Step 3: Arrange a checklist of requirements
Here are the documents you will need to submit along with the application for a Norway work visa:
- Passport
- Proof of academic qualifications
- Offer of Employment Form
- Proof of accommodation in Norway
- A document that proves that your salary meets the requirements for income; E.g., your employment contract with the salary agreed upon to receive with your employer in Norway
- Your CV/resume
- A document that proves your previous work experience
As an applicant you need to have one of the following qualifications:
- Vocational education degree
- Higher education degree
- In case you don’t have higher education, you need to have a particular which can act as compensation for this requirement
Step 5: Apply for Norway Work Visa
If you are applying for a Norway Work Visa from your native country, you have to follow the procedure given below:
- Fill out the application form that you can access on the UDI website.
- Ensure that you attach all the documents as instructed and required by the authorities along with your application form.
- Submit the work visa application to any Norway embassy that’s situated close to your location.
- UDI in Norway will get the application you submitted through the embassy.
In case your employer in Norway is applying for a work permit for you, here’s the procedure you must follow:
- Have all your necessary documents ready before you fill the work visa application.
- Your employer in Norway will submit the online application via the UDI website.
- You will be required to send every required document to the employer in Norway. In addition, you must send a letter that you have written and signed. Such a letter is to verify that you are letting your Norwegian employer submit the application for a work visa in Norway on your behalf.
- The employer in Norway will submit these attached documents to the body named “Residence to Permit & Protection Services” of the police force of Norway or to an SUA (Service Centre for Foreign Workers). This submission depends on which Norwegian district you are living in.
- The application will be handed over to the UDI through the SUA or the police.
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- Expert assistance to apply for migration to Norway.
- Immigration consultancy to show you the right path to immigrate risk-free and hassle-free.
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- Career counseling with expert advice.
If you are looking for expert immigration advice and assistance, talk to Y-Axis, the leading immigration and career consultant in the UAE.
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