High wages and an exceptionally high quality of life draw many expats to Norway's capital city. Expats will find that the job market is extremely competitive and that some sectors are more in demand than others, especially for foreign employees. Here is what you can expect from Oslo's labour market.
Oslo's labour market
Norway's population is generally highly educated, and competition for jobs is fierce. As a foreigner, you are competing against locals who have well-developed professional networks and relevant in-country experience. Employers prefer hiring ethnic Norwegian employees, and it is difficult for expats to find a job, especially if you don't speak Norwegian (also known as Norsk).
However, there is an increasing demand for international employees at multi-national companies and in sectors that are high in demand. Due to a local shortage of workers in several industries as described below, Oslo's labour market is becoming easier to enter for some.
Job opportunities in Oslo
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when finding a job in Oslo is the Norwegian language. Although there are many vacancies advertised online, the majority of these positions require fluency in Norwegian and English. This fact significantly shrinks the number of job opportunities in Oslo's labour market.
However, there are several industries in which the Norwegian language requirement does not apply.
Skilled work
The ICT industry in Oslo is booming. Software engineers and developers are able to apply to some Nordic start-up positions where the only required languages are English and programming languages. There are minimum educational requirements for skilled workers, so make sure you meet the requirements before applying for jobs. Front-end, back-end, and full-stack developers are high in demand, as well as UX/UI designers.
Other major industries where expats enjoy job opportunities are shipping, energy, oil and gas, and sciences (in particular environmental sciences and life sciences). Research positions at research and tertiary institutions are another area where expats can find both short-term and long-term vacancies that do not have Norwegian language requirements.
Unskilled work
EU nationals are able to search for jobs in Norway for a period of six months, although they will need the finances to support themselves. EU expats may find unskilled jobs in Oslo in the industries of construction, cleaning services, retail services, and select summer jobs.
Many of these jobs require little customer contact and therefore, might not have a language requirement. Find out more about the requirements for work immigration on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration website.
Wages in Oslo
As rumour has it, the wages in Oslo are higher than average. Most job sectors have minimum wage agreements; these minimum wage amounts are amongst the highest in Europe. However, high living costs and taxes have a huge impact on these impressive wages. Check the Norwegian Tax Administration's tax calculator to calculate your net salary before signing a work contract.
Although there is a difference in wages between skilled and unskilled workers, high taxes help level out the playing fields. Expats can expect to be offered standard salaries that are on par with those of their Norwegian counterparts.
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