Your Trusted Partner for Recruitment in Norway

To better fulfill your recruitment needs, we at Remote People are here to help you find top talent in Norway more effectively than recruiting on your own. Our team understands the local language, customs, and the intricacies of the Norwegian talent market, giving you a significant advantage in securing the right candidates.

We know where to advertise your job openings to ensure maximum exposure and attract the best talent. Additionally, we assist in designing competitive, locally-appropriate compensation packages that not only appeal to top candidates but also help you optimize costs. 

Get in touch with us to navigate Norway’s recruitment landscape with confidence and ease.

Key Takeaways

  • As Norway faces talent shortages as it diversifies its economy away from fossil fuels.
  • High taxes, high cost of living, and long dark winters make attracting talent a challenge.
  • However, Norwegians value equality, and their business culture tends to lack hierarchy while labor laws ensure work-life balance.
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Strategically located in Northern Europe with close relations with the EU, Norway has a highly developed economy that is one of the largest oil exporters in the world and a leading natural gas supplier to the European Union. 

Norway’s government is trying to lessen dependence on oil by liberalizing foreign investment laws to encourage more FDI while investing oil revenues in new sectors (e.g. Biotech, Cleantech, FinTech, Edtech, Medtech, and other new technology areas). The country is also using its sovereign wealth funds (among the largest in the world) to invest in international financial and real estate markets not connected to the local economy.   

Although Norway is not an EU member, many EU directives have been implemented into Norwegian legislation as the country is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) – ensuring the free flow of capital, personnel, services, and goods between Norway and the EU with some exceptions. 

However, Norway still faces talent shortages as high taxes, the high cost of living (especially in major cities like Oslo), and long dark winters can be challenging for locals and non-locals alike.  

Overview of the Norway Recruitment Industry

As Norway diversifies from fossil fuels, the local recruitment industry is experiencing steady growth, and around 200 firms (ranging from small local or specialized recruitment firms to well-known global players) provide recruitment services. 

Industry events and networking are deeply ingrained in Norwegian business culture, plus LinkedIn has a strong presence in Norway and can be used to recruit employees.

Popular local job boards include FINN.no (for all sorts of talent), Tekna (for engineers, technical professionals, and scientists), Econa (for finance and business professionals), and NAV.no (the government’s job portal). In addition, NAV can help employers recruit workers from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland through the EURES cooperation. 

However, English-language job listings on general Norwegian job boards are less frequent and used to attract local candidates. For international hiring, English language job postings on niche or expat-orientated sites should indicate whether the employer can help foreign employees obtain necessary work permits. 

Scale Your Team with Expert Headhunters in Norway

Having trouble finding top talent in Norway? Partner with us, and our expert headhunters will connect you to the right candidates to accelerate your growth.

  • Norway Hiring Expertise: Remote People provides tailored recruitment solutions to meet the unique demands of recruiting professionals in Norway.
  • Efficient Talent Sourcing: We identify highly qualified candidates quickly, streamlining the process for businesses operating in Norway.
  • Affordable Solutions: We offer competitive rates, making it easier for companies to secure top talent while managing costs effectively.
  • Norway Recruitment & EOR: We combine recruitment services with Employer of Record (EOR) support, simplifying both hiring and compliance in Norway.

Get a Customized Recruitment Strategy for Norway Today!

What are the Benefits of Recruiting in Norway?

Norwegians are highly educated and skilled – having some of the highest rates of educated workers among OECD countries – and are generally proficient in English. 

Norway has a well-developed rail network, multiple airports, and a dozen seaports for the easy import and export of goods, as well as excellent digital infrastructure to allow work from home. Living standards are also high, the country has little crime or corruption, and Norwegian labor law prioritizes employee rights and protections, work-life balance, and employee satisfaction. 

What Legal and Other Considerations Apply When Recruiting in Norway?

The Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven) governs employer-employee relationships in Norway and applies to all employees regardless of nationality.   

In addition, trade unions are powerful in Norway, and collective agreements are valid nationwide – meaning all employees in a particular industry must follow the same employment rules regardless of which company they work for. There is also no statutory right to severance pay and no official national minimum wage – individual sector collective bargaining agreements and employment contracts often outline minimum wages. 

All employees in Norway must have an employment contract containing information on all employment matters of importance. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) has a standard contract of employment covering statutory requirements that employers can use as a template. 

Employees from EU/EEA countries must register with the police, while those from other countries need a residence permit. Norway’s immigration system provides several options for non-EU/EEA foreign nationals, including: 

  • The local version of Schengen C Visas for business purposes limits visitor stays to 90 days in 180 days.
  • Residence and work permits for service providers are available in two-year increments up to a total stay of six years.
  • Residence and work permits for skilled workers are available in three-year increments with no limit on total stay. 

Many Norwegian professions are regulated by law or require a specific authorization or license (outlined on the website of the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills) to practice in Norway. 

Foreign nationals going to Norway to work can also use the Service Centre for Foreign Workers to receive registration certificates, apply for residence permits and tax deduction cards, obtain D numbers, and information on rights and obligations as an employee in the country.   

As a Scandinavian country, Norwegians value equality and conformity to a high degree – those who stand out from the crowd can face cultural challenges. Norwegians are also direct and to the point, which foreigners may perceive as being blunt or rude, but this is a result of a strong cultural emphasis on honesty and transparency. 

Norway’s business culture tends to lack a hierarchy, and Norwegians are known to be pragmatic and solution-oriented and value work-life balance. These cultural traits mean decision-making can be speedy and made non-bureaucratically. 

Business relationships in Norway are often informal, with first names commonly used to create a relaxed work atmosphere. However, punctuality in business is highly valued and must be respected.   

Norwegians also value independence and self-reliance, which can sometimes lead to a reluctance to ask for help or guidance to the frustration of non-Norwegians more accustomed to collaboration or stricter hierarchies.   

Norwegian employers can have relatively long working hours offset by shorter working hours at other times. However, working hours are (generally) restricted between 9 pm and 6 am, and many Norwegians leave the office at 4 pm (as they prioritize their personal lives and work-life balance). 

Choosing a Recruitment Agency in Norway

Depending on the seniority and complexity of the role, Norway recruitment agencies typically charge 20% to 30% of an employee’s annual salary. 

As of January 1, 2024, all staffing agencies in Norway must apply for authorization from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, and it is illegal to hire employees from a staffing agency without proper authorization. Authorized recruitment firms get listed in a public directory and should also be members of reputable industries, trade associations, or foreign chambers of commerce. 

In April 2023, rules for hiring employees from staffing agencies got tightened, e.g., foreign workers can no longer do construction work in certain Norwegian counties. In addition, if hired employees are to work in construction, cleaning, agriculture, horticulture, and shipbuilding, the employer client is responsible for ensuring the staffing agency guarantees the hired employees receive the same pay and working conditions per relevant Norwegian collective pay agreements. 

The employer client is also responsible for ensuring that the working hours of hired employees adhere to the rules set out in the Working Environment Act concerning working hours, while the staffing firm is responsible for the total working hours of their hired-out employees. 

Employers can only legally hire from a staffing agency to temporarily replace someone or if there is a temporary need for specialist expertise in advisory and consultancy services. There also must be an in-place agreement relating to hiring from staffing agencies with the employer’s employee representative. 

If an illegal hire gets made, the illegally hired employee may sue and demand permanent employment, or the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority will order the employer to terminate the employee and issue a fine. A trade union may also bring a case before the courts, while other employees may sue to demand permanent employment. 

Norway’s diversifying economy and close relations with the EU have opened new opportunities for local and foreign talent and investors. Moreover, the benefits of living and working in Norway can help overcome the downsides of living in the country to attract and retain local and international talent. 

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