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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 Lena Westling Seljee EURES Adviser Göteborg lena.westling-seljee@arbetsformedlingen.se
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 750 EURES advisers in Europe, 50 in Sweden. • http://eures.europa.eu
Facts about Sweden • Sweden is the third largest country in EU 25 and has • 96 000 km coastline. • 9.3 million inhabitants, 85% live in the southern parts. • Sweden has been a member of EU since 1995. • Currency: Swedish Crown (SEK) 10.00 SEK = 1 € • (mars 2010) • www.sweden.se
Kiruna Kiruna 21 counties 20 inhabitants / km2 290 municipalities Umeå 450.000 km2 1574 km Stockholm Göteborg Malmö Ystad
Right to work in Sweden * workers, self-employed, students, ”sufficient funds”
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
Labour Market StatisticsAugust 2009 • 72,8 % of men and 66, 4 % of women aged 15-74 are in employment. Good child care facilities make this possible. • Unemployment rate 8,6 % December 2009
Labour market shortages and surpluses • Shortages: Specialists in health care, Pre-school teachers, Teachers in vocational subjects, Chefs, Dentists, Crane operators, Accountants, Engineers in building and construction, Engineers Electrical Power, IT-specialists, qualified metal workers (heating and ventilation). • Surpluses: Motor Vehicle operators, Operators (metal, rubber, plastic), Machine operators, Journalists, Office clerks, Telephone operators/receptionists, Biologists, Photographers, Gardeners, Shop assistants, Masseurs, Cleaners.
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 29,400 (men) SEK 24,700 (women) • No national minimum wage. Collective agreements in most occupations ensure fair wages.
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 Find a job
Other ways to a job • Open application • www.gulasidorna.se • www.foretagsfakta.se • CV database • www.arbetsformedlingen.se (Swedish) • www.eures.europa.eu
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) • You may be asked to present evidence of professional qualifications and diplomas later on. • Recognition of foreign diplomas
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)
Taxes • Council Tax between 26-34 %, average 31 %. • State Tax + 20% of the income over 367 600 SEK + 25% of the income over 526 200 SEK • (per annum) • Example: 20 000 SEK net income of 15 471 SEK • 30 000 SEK net income of 22 458 SEK • (per month) • Tax deductions includes social insurance and pension fees, but not unemployment benefits. • www.skatteverket.se
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
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* 21 – 682 SEK/day First day = no pay *income < 321 000 SEK/year
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 Temporary parental benefit: 60 days per child and year
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”
Universities and university colleges Age 18- Advanced vocationaleducation (KY) Age 18- Educational system 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
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
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! Lena Westling Seljee lena.westling-seljee@arbetsformedlingen.se Brochure: Do you want to work in Sweden?www.arbetsformedlingen.se under Other languages