WORKING IN THE

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
IN NORWAY
(Updated April 2013)

About the industry

The construction industry is important for the country and functions as a good indicator of the
general labour market situation. Since September 2008, and due to the world wide finance
crisis, the construction industry has suffered an unemployment increase of about 150%,
mostly carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Some mention the fact that the
activity is reduced from an extraordinary high level to a more normal level.

What is the demand for workers in the construction industry?

A positive growth for the sector is still expected in 2013, of about 5-6%. This would generate
increased demand for labor force of about 4-5 % or 2000 to 7000 persons depending on work
productivity.

How to find work in the construction industry?

Go to www.nav.no, choose ledige stillinger.
Then define your search: category Industri, bygg/anlegg, etc and undercategory
Bygg og anlegg.
Further below you can define in which geographical region you wish to work, and
please note the possibility to use a specific search word (Sk etter ord i
stillingsannonse). The system allows you to register your search, and will provide
you with matching vacancies automatically.
You can also look up free vacancies in Norway at the European Job Mobility Portal.
You could as well contact temporary work agencies (Vikar og bemanningsbyrer). You can
use the Norwegian Yellow Pages to look up these companies. These agencies must
now by law be registered on a list administrated by the Norwegian Labour Inspection
Authority.
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Language, education and training requirements

The construction industry is generally in need of highly skilled personnel, from workers with
current professional certificates (called fagbrev) to college-educated technicians/engineers
(Norwegian titles: ingenir and sivilingenir). The employers themselves must meet
standards for safety precautions and quality control measures, so you will need documentation
for your skills when applying for construction jobs here.
The working language in the construction industry is Norwegian. Though many Norwegians
speak English, it is not often used for communication at the workplace. With a lack of
Norwegian language skills many employers will require at least a minimum of good English
skills in order to function at the workplace. Knowing Norwegian will of course make your
integration in Norway easier. Information about language course possibilities in your home
country may be obtained from the Norwegian embassy/consulate.

ID-cards for construction workers

As a measure to ensure that employees health, safety and working environment are in
accordance with regulations, all Norwegian building and construction enterprises must now
issue identity cards to their employees. These personal ID-cards are issued for two years at a
time, and must be worn visibly at all times.

Wages and taxes

The Norwegian building and construction industry has instituted a minimum wage scale for
construction workers (given in current hourly rates), which is to be followed, by all
companies, according to the law.
The EU Directive on temporary work, implemented in Norway from the 1st of January 2013,
ensures temporary workers the same working conditions as for permanent workers.
Skilled workers: NOK 159,25
Unskilled workers with no experience in construction work: NOK 150
Unskilled workers with at least one years experience in construction work: NOK
152,5
Workers under 18 years of age: NOK 104,5
Depending on production schedules, travel requirements and other work-related assignments,
you may also be entitled to overtime pay, compensation for board and lodging and other
expenses.
When you work for a Norwegian employer, you are required to pay tax in Norway. If you
reside in Norway for less than six months, special tax rules apply. Bring your employment
contract and passport to the nearest tax office (skattekontor) and apply for a tax card
(skattekort). If you start working without a tax card, the employer will deduct 50% tax.
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Otherwise the tax usually amounts to around 1/3 of your pay. See the Norwegian Tax
Authority (www.taxnorway.no) for more information.

Important things to consider

There are regulations about working hours, salaries, insurance, and other conditions at the
workplace. Companies should ensure that their activities are run in accordance with the law.
The authority which deals with these questions is the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority.

Employer organizations
www.arkitektur.no (Norwegian Architects Association)
www.bnl.no (Federation of Norwegian Construction Industries)
www.ebanett.no (Construction Entrepreneurs Association)

Trade Unions
In Norway, trade unions play an important role at the workplace. You may wish to contact
them - one of the most important in the construction industry is the Norwegian United
Federation of Trade Unions.(Fellesforbundet).
www.fellesforbundet.no (for Construction workers) and www.bygningsarbeider.no
(site for Fellesforbundet in Oslo)
www.afag.no (for Architects)
www.nito.no (for Engineers)
www.tekna.no (for Engineers)

Related information
www.eures.europa.eu (EURES Job Mobility Portal)
www.atil.no (Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority )
www.udi.no (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)