Sweden - living and working conditions

1. How to find a job

People looking for work in Sweden are expected to be proactive to a large degree and make use of the “self-service” options available, especially on the Internet.

The Swedish Employment Service’s website is by far the largest and most popular job site. Vacancies throughout the country and in other countries are advertised there. It is possible to search by location and by profession. Usually employers’ details are given, so it is possible to contact them directly. The adverts are in Swedish, and most employers require applicants to have knowledge of Swedish.

There is also a lot of other information about how to look for work and about the labour market and studying. There are lists of links to private job sites, daily newspapers and recruitment and staffing agencies.
Apart from information about vacancies, there is also a CV database where job seekers can register their qualifications.

Some services, such as general information and support, can be provided by the Customer Services of the Swedish Employment Service by telephone on +46-(0)771-416 416.

Vacancies which are specifically aimed at job seekers in other countries can be found on the EURES portal. These are marked with an EU flag.

Please contact private employment and staffing agencies and use personal contacts and ask for tips. Many jobs are never advertised. Taking the initiative to contact an employer for whom you would like to work is common and is usually seen in a positive light. Lists of companies in various sectors can be found in databases such as Företagsfakta (company facts) and the phone book’s Gula Sidor (yellow pages).

Daily and local newspapers, as well as free newspapers such as Metro, contain a large number of job adverts. Thursdays and Sundays are the days which usually have the most adverts. These adverts can also be accessed via the Internet.

2. How to apply for a job

Far from all vacancies require a written application. Often a phone call or personal visit will suffice. Certain companies have their own forms which have to be filled in. Please read job adverts carefully to find out how to apply. It is also important to check the advert carefully to see what are requirements and what are preferences. If you do not meet the requirements, it is seldom worthwhile applying. However, it is not always as important to have qualifications described as preferred or recommended.

A written application consists of a personal letter and a CV (curriculum vitae). Certificates or testimonials should only be enclosed if requested in the advert. The same applies to photographs. On the Swedish Employment Service’s website under the heading “Jobbsökaren” (Job seeker) there is a lot of good advice and examples (in Swedish only) of what and how to write.
The personal letter should be very short, no more than one side of A4, neatly typed, and state clearly the job for which you are applying. It can be written in a quite informal style. It is important to describe the qualifications and personal attributes you have which make you the right person for the job in question. Leave all details and dates concerning previous experience for your CV.
Do not forget to date and sign the letter.

Your CV should contain

    * personal details (name, address, telephone number, date of birth, marital status, nationality)
    * educational background (formal education, courses)
    * work experience (perhaps with a brief description of work duties)
    * other attributes which may be of interest (positions of responsibility, driving licence, computer skills)
    * language skills
    * leisure interests
    * references (preferably from two different people, of which at least one should be a previous employer)

Information on education and work experience should contain dates and should be listed in reverse chronological order (i.e. the most recent information comes first).
Large companies usually send an acknowledgement of the receipt of your application, often with advice on when you may expect to be contacted. If some time passes and you have not heard anything you can call them yourself. In that case, make sure you “sell yourself” to the person you speak to.
Taking the initiative to call or write to an employer for whom you would like to work is common and is usually seen in a positive light.

Job interview
Make sure you prepare yourself well for the interview. Try to find out as much as you can about the company. You will have to answer questions about your education, previous employment and leisure interests. It is also common to be asked to describe your strengths and weaknesses and how they may impact on the job for which you are applying, and about your family situation, leisure interests, etc. You will also be expected to ask questions of your own at the end of the interview. Think in advance about what questions you would like to ask. Take copies of your certificates and testimonials to the interview.
As well as a personnel officer, or other employer representative, a union representative and/or future work colleague will often also take part in the interview.
Sometimes you may be called to a second or even a third interview and/or asked to take tests of various kinds, depending on the type of job in question.

3. Registration procedures and residence permits

Register your address with your local tax office. You can find their address in the phone book under ”Lokala skattemyndigheter” (local tax authorities).

You will eventually be given a “personnummer” (personal identity number) comprising your date of birth plus four control digits. If you are staying in Sweden for less than one year you will be given a ”samordningsnummer” (coordination number). Your personal identity number/coordination number will be used in various contexts in your contacts with various authorities such as Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Administration), but most importantly when you apply for the document ”Rätt till uppehåll som EU-medborgare” (right of residence as an EU citizen). You can obtain the document from the Migrationsverk (the Swedish Migration Board). If you are sure that your stay in Sweden will last for at least one year you can apply for an “uppehållstillstånd” (residence permit) from the Swedish Migration Board.

4. Working time

Standard working hours in Sweden are 40 hours per week. Flexitime is very common.

Parents with children under the age of 8 are entitled to reduce their working hours by up to 25%.
Employees are entitled to rest during the night (i.e. between midnight and 5 a.m.) unless night work is necessary due to the nature of the work or for other reasons.
There are special provisions on night work for employees under the age of 18.

Overtime is limited to 48 hours over a four-week period, or 50 hours over a period of one month. Total overtime may not exceed 200 hours in a given 12-month period.

Employers have an obligation to keep records of working time. Sunday working is governed by collective agreements. Most of these agreements regard Saturdays and Sundays as rest days. However, there are many exceptions (e.g. for shift workers and employees in certain sectors such as transport, retail, tourism and public services).

5. The social security system in this counrtry

Basic social insurance includes sickness insurance, family assistance, basic and supplementary retirement schemes, early and partial retirement and industrial accident insurance.

All people over 16 years of age residing in Sweden, whether of Swedish or another nationality, are registered for housing-based benefits (bosättningsbaserad).

The Försäkringskassan is the central administrative authority for social insurance and for the premiums made to social insurance. There is a local office in each county. The headquarters are in Stockholm.

In Sweden, social insurance is largely funded through employer contributions. However, social insurance also receives considerable government funding, particularly the basic pension scheme. These grants are budgeted and paid for through taxes.

Social assistance, which is not part of the social security system in Sweden, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Socialdepartementet). It is supervised by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). Local administration of social assistance, including care and assistance for children and their families, the elderly and the disabled, is the responsibility of the local authorities and is primarily funded through local taxes.

Applications for benefits should be submitted in writing to your local social insurance office (försäkringskassa). Special forms are required when applying for certain benefits. Some benefits require medical certificates or medical examinations.

6. Incomes and taxation

The Swedish tax system consists of a number of direct and indirect taxes and charges. The most important direct taxes are national and municipal income tax and national capital tax. The most important indirect taxes are VAT and excise duties on certain products, such as alcohol and tobacco. Almost all goods and services are subject to VAT and the rate of VAT is normally 25 per cent of the price.

Earnings below SEK 16 700 per year are tax free.

The majority of the income tax paid by natural persons goes to the municipalities. If your income exceeds SEK 306 000 (2006) you must also pay national income tax at 20% on the amount in excess of SEK 306 000. If your income exceeds SEK 460 600 you must pay 25% national tax on the amount in excess of SEK 460 600.
Municipal income tax is proportional and, depending on the municipality, is between 28 and 33%.

Certain assets, such as real estate, bank deposits, shares and bonds, are subject to tax on net wealth. Income tax is also paid on unemployment benefits, pensions and similar sources of income. Property tax is levied on those who own a house, holiday cottage or land.

Both natural and legal persons are obliged to file an income tax return each year.

Fact sheets on taxes in Sweden can be ordered from Skatteverket (the National Tax Board) in your country.


Source: EURES