Overview of Norway

Population: 5,514,477 (2024)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $444.16 billion (2024 est)

Economic Overview:

Even though the Norwegian economy experienced one of its highest growth rates in 2022, it is projected to outperform and expand in 2023. Despite the high inflation in the country, Norway's economy in 2023 has seen tremendous growth albeit at a slower pace compared to 2022.

For organizations planning to expand into Norway, it is important to understand the economy's potential will need policy actions to strengthen the participation of the labor force.

Market Size:

The job market in Norway is stable. The pandemic had influenced employment opportunities due to mobility constraints. Nevertheless, the situation is seeing signs of improvement, and there is a rising demand for seasonal workers. The country needs labor inflow from abroad to cater to the needs of the shipping and offshore oil and gas industries. As of 2020, 2.01% of Norwegian citizens work in the agricultural sector, 19.1% are engaged in the industry sector, and 78.89% are employed in the service industry.

A brief glimpse of industries in Norway

• The revenues from the export of oil and gas have risen to around 40% of the total exports from Norway in 2020, and they contribute to around 20% of the national GDP.

• There is a huge industry for fishing in Norway, as the country is the second-largest fish exporter in the world. The fish from cultures and catch is the second-most-exported product from Norway after oil and gas.

• The mining industry contributes significantly to the national GDP. The Norwegian Geological Survey indicated that the mineral production from the country was valued at close to USD 1.5 billion. Minerals such as limestone, iron, titanium, and nickel are the primary mined natural resources.

• Norway has banned deforestation for preserving its forests at the United Nations Climate Summit 2014. It is finding innovative ways to provide agriculture and crop products without negatively impacting the environment.

• The government encourages companies and service sectors to introduce policies that support flexible employment terms.

Internet Speed

Norway has high-speed internet across the country with an average connection speed of 48.3 Mbps, making it among the top 5 countries in the world with the fastest internet speeds.

Talent in Norway

Top Skills in Norway

Norway has a stable job market, mostly dependent on natural resources. Though English is widely spoken, the local language, Norwegian, is used in many organizations.

The major hiring industries in Norway include:

Top Hiring Sectors In Norway

‍Top Skills by City and Occupation in Norway

Oslo

Oslo is known as the economic and governmental hub of Norway. The capital city has major government institutions. Its location toward the south of Norway and proximity to the sea has made it a hub for the Norwegian trade and shipping industry and the banking sector. It is now a center for maritime trade and industry in Europe. Here are the top skills in the major industries in Oslo:

Bergen

The second-most prominent city in Norway is Bergen. It boasts a rich heritage and an international center in the field of aquaculture. There are a lot of opportunities for the offshore petroleum and shipping industries. Bergen has evolved to become the national center for marine education (the University of Bergen is Norway’s largest marine studies institute) and is a tourist attraction.

Other major cities in Norway include Stavanger and Hammerfest, both major office hubs of various local and foreign-based oil and gas companies. Both the cities have witnessed rapid growth due to the offshore oil industry, which is the economic backbone of Norway and provides enormous employment opportunities for citizens and ex-pats.

Hiring Cost in Norway

Cost of Living in Norway

The cost of living in Norway is very high, primarily due to the country’s import dependency on other Scandinavian countries for goods. For an individual ex-pat, the estimated cost of living in Norway would be around USD 2000 to 3000 (NOK 17,000 to 34,000). The following table gives an insight into the cost of living in Norway.

Average Cost of Living in Norway: Categorical Breakdown

Cost of Renting in Norway

The average rent in Norway is USD 900 to 1200 (NOK 7732 to 10310) per month. However, this may vary depending on your location and lifestyle.

Average Rent in Norway: City-wise Breakdown

The cost of living varies significantly in different cities in Norway. Norway’s population is mainly distributed among four major cities: Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Trondheim.

• The capital city of Oslo bags the place for the highest cost of living, as it is a financial and industrial hub for companies. Hence, it attracts many ex-pats, resulting in a higher cost of living.

• The smaller cities of Norway, such as Stavanger, Bergen, and Trondheim, have lower living costs than Oslo. This is primarily due to lower salaries and the dependence of the workforce on the primary and secondary industrial sectors.

Hiring Cost in Norway

The cost of hiring is an important factor to consider while employing people. This cost depends on various other factors, such as the cost of living in the city and the overall expenditure in a city. The average person working in Norway typically earns around 612,000 NOK (USD 71,011) per year. Salaries can range from the lowest wages of 155,000 NOK(USD 17,985) to around 2,730,000 NOK (USD 316,768) for highly skilled employees. When you wish to hire someone in a city in Norway, several important factors affect the cost of hiring, including:

• Onboarding costs
• Training
• The cost incurred in taking interviews, conducting the screening process, and completing the hiring
• Opportunity costs

Salary Structure for Various Roles in Norway

The following table reflects the average annual salary drawn by employees of various sectors in NOK.

Employment Laws in Norway

• The companies in Norway follow the Norwegian Working Environment Act, which regulates the relationship between employers and employees. These laws are applied to all categories of workers, both permanent and temporary.
• The legal framework has moved towards more flexible employment policies and employee-friendly codes.
• The regulations that apply are straightforward; however, the authorities still have substantial power.

Some features of the Norwegian Working Environment Act are given below.

Working Hours

Employees in full-time roles can work for 40 hours a week. The Act ensures employees have the right to reduced working hours due to personal health and social reasons.

Holidays 

All working employees are entitled to four weeks and one day of paid working leave every calendar year. Employees above 60 are entitled to one additional week yearly. There are special allowances for maternity and paternity leave for all employees.

Sick Leave 

Employees are entitled to three days of leave without a medical certificate. Daily sickness benefit is passed on to employees equal to their pensionable income. There are also additional benefits for absence from work to care for a sick child.

Norway Remote Hiring Trends 2024

Decrease in Employees Working From Home

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to social distancing and nationwide shutdowns, 59% of Norwegians worked from home. In 2023, as countries and businesses have reopened, only 30% of Norwegians primarily work from home.

Despite this decrease, this is still a high percentage of remote workers, accounting for about 780,000 Norwegians. In addition, the number of remote workers is forecasted to increase by 30% by 2030 as more Gen-Z employees join the workforce.

Common Recruitment Methods in Norway

Using online job boards is the norm for remote recruiting in Norway in 2024. The most common online job boards for Norwegian jobs are:

• Arbeidsplassen
• EURES
• Gule Sider
• FINN
• Jobs in Oslo

Top In-demand Job Positions in Norway

Certain industries are hiring the most workers in Norway in 2024. The in-demand industries in Norway are healthcare, technology, retail, real estate, transportation, sustainability, and green economies.

The most in-demand job positions in Norway are:

• IT Specialist
• Civil Engineer
• Biotechnologist
• Mechanical Engineer
• Nurse

Independent contractors who are freelancers are also on the rise, with 4.7% of Norwegian workers being self-employed, making it an excellent time to hire contractors in Norway.

The top companies hiring in Norway are:

• Microsoft
• Capgemini
• IBM
• Google
• Arm

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How Can Skuad Help You in Hiring in Norway?

Hiring in Norway is a multi-faceted task that requires in-depth knowledge of the laws, trends, hiring costs, living costs city-wise, and primary industrial sectors. Skuad can partner with your company to provide a one-stop solution handling every minute aspect of the hiring process. 

By taking over HR tasks for recruitment, including finding, vetting, selecting, hiring, and onboarding the requisite talent, we give you the freedom and time to focus on your expansion without undue stress. Connect with Skuad experts to know more.

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