Live and work in Norway
You have probably heard of Norway’s high standards for quality of life – after all, according to the U.S. News and World Report, it is ranked as the second-best country in the world regarding this. It’s beautiful, safe, balanced and peaceful: what more could you want?
Come dig deeper into what makes Norway such a special place to be in with our quick overview of what it’s like to live and work in Norway.
Latest available jobs in Norway
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Currency
The official currency in Norway is the Norwegian Krone
Famous people
Some famous Norwegians are Edvard Munch, ABBA, Kygo, and Alan Walker
Population
Norway has ~5.5 million residents, many living in Oslo and Bergen
Typical food
Rokt las (smoked salmon), Kjøttboller (meatballs), Fårikål (free-range high-quality mutton)
Avg. working week
Norway has a 40-hour work week, which is about 8 hours daily
Location
Norway is located in Northern Europe andy borders the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Barents Sea, and Sweden
Languages
The official language is Norwegian (two dialects: Bokmål and Nynorsk)
Healthcare
Norwaegian healthcare is mostly funded by taxes. Regardless of residency status, emergency healthcare is free
What you need to know about living in Norway
Norway has some of the most stunning Scandinavian nature with mountains, fjords, cliffs, and waterfalls. If you are a nature lover, you will find no lack of adventure and unique phenomena in Norway, including the Northern Lights and the midnight sun. Furthermore, Norway has incredible resorts and mountains for skiing – a true paradise for winter sport lovers.
Norway’s urban side is just as wonderful as their nature. If you want to live in a clean, well-organised city alongside a peaceful, respectful community, working in Norway might just about be your chance at that.
Get a job in Norway if you:
- Want to have great work-life balance, with enough to experience on your time off
- Dream of experiencing the magic of the best of Nordic nature
- Wish to become part of a community that values equality, solidarity and wellbeing for all
Basic facts about Norway
- Average working hours per week: 40 hours, 8 hours daily
- Typical working day: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Number of Vacation days: 25 days/year
- Commute: Public transport, easy to use and operating on a one-ticketing system
- Work culture: Strong focus on work-life balance, teamwork, equality, and efficiency of work.
- Population: 5.46 million people across a surface area of 385207 km2
As seen from the fairly low population density, one particularly impressive thing about Norway is the amount of wild nature. Norway has 44 national parks, all very well maintained. Even if you consider yourself more of a city person, you will for sure enjoy nature. Hiking in Norway is almost sure to change your mind.
Most of the country shares a border to the east with Sweden. The region furthest up north is bordered by Finland to the south and Russia to the east, while Denmark lies south of the country. Norway’s extensive coastline faces both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea – so there are plenty of cultural influences within Norway itself, as well as enough to explore in the neighbouring countries.
What is it like to work in Norway?
Norwegian people take pride in punctuality and organisation, so if you also value proper time management, Norway is a good place for you. In general, workplaces tend to be casual, both in terms of attire and atmosphere and in terms of relationships with co-workers and even higher-ups. However, do not confuse casual for unserious. A Norwegian workplace is usually highly focused on efficiency and teamwork, so that everybody involved can enjoy as much of their life outside of work as possible.
Working in Norway
Norway has a strong financial position, upheld by its solid democracy. Featuring an economic system of state ownership mixed with free market activities, it is a high-income, high wage growth, low unemployment rate market. For this reason, it is a country with a lot of work opportunities, many of them with a strong international focus. Diversity of language and culture is very much welcome. At Job Squad, you will find plenty of offers for multiple languages available, so check them out here!
There are also many seasonal jobs in Norway that require little or no experience. Every year there is a lot of young people going to Norway to work in tourism and the hospitality industry at ski resorts, and in restaurants.
How to find jobs and housing in Norway
When you need to find a job in Norway, it is always a good idea to get yourself some help from an international recruitment agency. At Job Squad, we have helped thousands of people find their dream job abroad – you can read their stories here. With a recruitment agency behind you, you’ll get help finding the right job positions. Agencies typically have contacts in a number of companies that are looking for candidates like you.
A lot of Norwegians have a comfortable level of English, so it is entirely possible to work and live there as an international. Norwegian language skills are, however, always a plus.
Start your housing search online on Norwegian housing portals like finn.no, which is largest, or hybel.no, which has all content accessible in English. Connect to your network and ask your employer, as they may have housing options available. In any case, start your search in advance and do not hesitate to use anything from websites to Facebook groups to find the best living arrangement for you.
Why should you get a job in Norway?
To sum up, if you want to become part of one of the happiest countries in the world, enjoy a great work-life balance, and be part of a community of people that value respect, Norway is your place. To this, add a touch of spectacular natural beauty and a rich culture.
Popular destinations in Norway
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Life in Norway
Living in Norway has so much to offer. If you want to explore tradition and connect to the past, but still need to feel in touch with today’s world, especially when it comes to your workplace, Norway is a good place to be in. Norwegians know how to preserve the finest aspects of history and leave behind what does not make sense. Norway is considered to be a world trend-setter in regards to gender equality. The Norwegian Parliament has intensified efforts to help bridge the wage gap, improve working conditions for women, and create more opportunities.
Cultural experiences
It would not be right to discuss Norway without mentioning Nordic mythology, beloved for its tales across many other cultures. Norse mythology is still cherished in Norway through celebrations such as the annual Viking Festival in Avaldsnes, held on the island of Karmøy. The festival offers Viking reenactments with battles, traditional crafts, and music. Norwegians also pay homage to Norse culture through museums (the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo), statues (Odin in Trondheim), and replicas of runestones and other Norse imagery.
You can also experience Norse culture reinterpreted through a modern lens. If you like your music loud and heavy, you need to check out Norway’s black metal scene, which often throws references to Viking culture. The Norse-inspired modern literature, comics, and TV shows are also worth mentioning.
Explore Norwegian cuisine
When thinking about Norwegian cuisine, always think of fresh, locally grown ingredients. The country has a tradition of using its own natural resources to create signature dishes. There are so many meat, fish, seafood, and pastry options. Each ingredient has a whole bunch of unique variations. For example, for fish, you can have it smoked, dried (as Klippfisk), cured and served with mash (as Gravlaks), fermented (as Rakfisk), or turned into a soup (as a Fiskesuppe). This definitely showcases inventiveness, if not anything else!
Where to learn Norwegian?
Norwegian people are very accommodating, so don’t worry about not getting everything right from the start. Your effort will be appreciated. You can check HERE for information on the options you can choose from when trying to study Norwegian. Sign up for a course and enjoy your life and work there to the fullest!
Still not convinced about Norway?
If all of this has not fully convinced you to come live and work in Norway, perhaps a more in-depth look into Norwegian culture will.
Prepare yourself for encounters with myth everywhere in Norway. The Norwegian population’s worst fears have a mythical correspondent: the troll, which you will encounter everywhere, represented through statues and drawings. It is their way of bringing their fears to light . In fact, there is even a Norwegian car brand named Troll. The cars have long been discontinued, but are still preserved in various museums.
Despite the troll danger, another charming cultural oddity of the Norwegians has to do with how safe the country is. It is not uncommon to see baby strollers left out in the cold, unattended – this is seen as a way to boost the child’s health. This is a common trait in Scandinavian countries. Still, it is impressive to achieve such a level of safety!
Perhaps this safety – and also the strong tolerance to the cold, even for babies – comes from the Norwegians’ concept of kos, which stands for a feeling of warmth brought by small things. “Kos is like giving a hug”, it is said. Norway is about finding joy and cosiness in small things – if this is also how you want to live, come find the best work opportunity for you now!
Click here to see the latest jobs in Norway
Taxes in Norway
Taxes in Norway can be quite high, but in exchange the taxpayer money goes into ensuring a high standard of living, plus access to high-quality, universal healthcare. Figuring out taxes in Norway depends on your residency status. If you are going to work in Norway, you will most likely need to sign up as a resident. Ask your employer for advice and for any specific details you might need to know. In general, the procedure is to register with Skatteetaten (the Norwegian Tax Administration) and get a Skattekort, which determines how much tax will be withheld from your salary. Also check for Norway’s agreements with other countries to avoid double taxation.
FAQ
Yes, if you are staying/working for a period longer than 3 months. Even if you are working for a period of under 3 months, you may still require a permit. You can always check with your embassy if needed. HERE you can find more information on the procedure, as well as fill out the application form to obtain your permit.
English is commonly taught in schools and is often spoken by people of all ages in Norway. Younger generations tend to have a better grasp of English compared to older generations. But it is very recommendable to learn some Norwegian phrases as a sign of respect, and it will make things easier if you plan to stick around for a while.
Norway is well-known for its long, harsh winters, but rest assured knowing that most of Norway is not completely dark during winter. The more you move up north, the more noticeable the Polar Night is – but for most regions, you will get your share of sunlight, even though it may be dimmer than usual. As for the cold: the saying there goes that “there is no bad weather, just bad clothes” ! You will recharge plenty during summer, when temperatures tend to be pleasant and warm. If the midnight sun scares you as much as the Polar Night, the same goes: not all regions of Norway get the famous 24-hour sun during summer. While summer days will be long, the most “extreme” versions of this phenomena are only visible in certain parts of the country.
Norway has excellent and affordable public transportation, especially in bigger cities such as Oslo. Getting around without a car should not be a problem. However, if you do need to drive in Norway, be aware of the strict traffic laws and severe penalties.
