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Living and working in Sweden. Ivar Jönsson EURES Adviser International Employment Office Sweden. Kiruna. Kiruna. 9.3 million inhabitants. Umeå. 450.000 km2. 1600 km. 20 inhabitants / km 2. Stockholm. Göteborg. Malmö. Ystad. Some facts about Sweden.
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Living and working in Sweden Ivar Jönsson EURES Adviser International Employment Office Sweden
Kiruna Kiruna 9.3 million inhabitants Umeå 450.000 km2 1600 km 20 inhabitants / km2 Stockholm Göteborg Malmö Ystad
Some facts about Sweden • Unemployment rate 7,8 % ( Sept 2010) • Good child care facilities make high employment rate possible. • Retirement; 65 year • Currency: Swedish Crown (SEK) 9.25 SEK = 1 € (Oct 2010) • www.sweden.se
Labour market shortages and surpluses • Shortages: Specialists in health care, Pre-school teachers, Teachers in vocational subjects, Engineers Electrical Power, Sheet-metal workers in building and construction. Cooks • Surpluses: Day-care workers, Receptionists, Nursing assistants, Resource persons for students with special needs, Biologists, Janitors, Warehousemen, Shop assistants, Prep cooks and restaurant cashiers
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) • No national minimum wage. Collective agreements in most occupations ensure fair wages.
Public Employment Serviceswww.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 • Open applications • www.gulasidorna.sewww.foretagsfakta.se Find a job
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)
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
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) +46 (0) 771-416 416 • The Public Employment Office – “Arbetsförmedlingen” (over 300 offices)
but… • without speaking Swedish… • …is it very difficult! • First step: LANGUAGE COURSE ! • www.si.se • Free courses: Swedish for immigrants
Salaries some examples SEK per month (Gross) AverageCar mechanics 20 000 Med. Doctor 45 000Welder 22 000 Nurse 24 000Construction worker 25 000 Civ. Engineer 35 000 Cook 20 000 Preschool teacher 22 500 Shop assistant 20 000 Waiter/waitress 18 000
1 Euro = 9,25 SKR, 10 000 Skr = 1080 Euro Gross Netto (SEK / Month) % Tax 15.000 12 070 19,4 20.000 15.650 20,7 25.000 19,230 23,0 30.000 22.680 24,4 40.000 27.990 30,0 50 000 32 660 34,6 Tax deductions includes social insurance and pension fees, but not unemployment benefits. Taxes (2010)
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. Cost 150-300 SEK per month. 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 Child allowance and child care • 1 child; 1 050 SEK/month - 4 children 5 514 SEK/month • Municipalities are obliged to provide childcare to children aged 1 -12 years.
Accommodation • Rent an apartment or house • “Buy” an apartment • Buy a house • Accommodation costs vary greatly
A typical Swedish work place • ”Du”– first name basis – informality! • “Flat” organisations • Team work • You must be able to take initiatives and adapt to new situations. • 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 • Internet – VERY important in the Swedish society
Thank you for your attention! Working in Sweden; Useful addresses