Integrovaný portál MPSV

Anglická verze rozhovoru se zástupkyní EURES Švédsko Lindou Daugaard. Více o práci ve Švédsku ZDE.

Since last year a lot of European countries have been afflicted by economic crisis, as a result of this many people have lost their jobs. Can you describe a current labour market situation in Sweden?

The unemployment rate is still increasing but at a slower pace and the youth unemployment is high compared to other EU/EEA countries. In September the official unemployment rate was 8.3 %.

What are the chances for Czech companies to find key workers from Sweden and what steps should they take to advertise and recruit?

The best way is to go through a Czech EURES adviser to get in contact with EURES Sweden. We can offer advertisement on Sweden's largest jobsite www.arbetsformedlingen.se with over 1.7 million unique visitors per month. You can participate in one of our job fairs or recruitment days. At the moment three Swedish EURES advisers are currently discussing with EURES in the Czech Republic, the possibility to organise "Czech Days" in Sweden in the spring of 2010. It will be a great way for Czech employers to find Swedish graduates.

Culture really matters, and that goes for work and working conditions in particular. What is typical for Swedish workers?

Swedes in general are used to low hierarchies and we are on a first name basis with everyone. Teamwork is very common, but we are also used to taking own initiatives and work independently. Most Swedes also speak English.

When looking for work, which countries in the EU/EEA area are Swedes interested in?

We get a lot of questions about moving to Norway, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, the United Kingdom and recently also the Czech Republic. Norway and Denmark are neighbouring countries with similar languages and culture. Many Swedes move to Norway or Denmark to work, but there are also a high number of people who live in Sweden and commute to work in our neighbouring countries. The level of English language skills is high in Sweden, so the United Kingdom and Ireland are popular destinations for Swedes. The Spanish language, culture and weather are also of high interest for young Swedes. In the last few years the interest among Swedes for the Czech Republic has increased and there is a significant number of Swedes in Prague working in financial accounting and reporting, IT and human resources.

In the opposite direction, what are the job opportunities in Sweden and how can the Czech applicants find job in this country?

Due to the financial crisis the past year the unemployment rate has increased, however, there are still shortages in some areas. There is a demand for Specialists in health care, Pre-school teachers, Teachers in vocational subjects, Chefs, Dentists, Crane operators, Accountants, Engineers in building and construction, IT-specialists and qualified metal workers in heating and ventilation.

A common way to find a job in Sweden is to contact the employers directly. Find out what the company does and what skills they are looking for; many companies have vacancies published on their company website. Do not send the same CV to several companies - put a little more effort into writing a tailored CV for each company.

What are the challenges for a Czech jobseeker in Sweden and what do the employers expect?

The employer would expect you to be active, take own initiatives and to be a good team player. Most employers would want you to learn Swedish as soon as possible. If you have a basic knowledge in Swedish it is easier to get a job. The Swedish Institute offers a Swedish language course online and the first module is free of charge, www.si.se. For more information about living and working in Sweden, see http://www.arbetsformedlingen.se/admin/Documents/utland
/worksweden.pdf

Is there anything else that would be good to know for the Czech employers or jobseekers?

In the beginning of 2010 we will start up www.eures.se for European jobseekers and employers, with information about opportunities and ongoing recruitment projects. The objective is to make it easier to find updated information about the Swedish labour market and how to find a job. It will be additional information to the European job mobility portal www.eures.europa.eu