Employers in Norway are still faced with a shortage of workers across a number of sectors, the latest survey carried out by the Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) shows. 

In total, Norway lacks around 53,000 workers, according to a survey of firms in Norway. One in four businesses told NAV that they were experiencing recruitment problems. 

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NAV pointed to a number of occupations which were particularly in demand. Some of these, such as teachers and healthcare workers, have long suffered staffing shortages. Meanwhile, NAV’s latest figures also showed growing demand for other lines of work, such as cooks. 

The jobs range from ones which require excellent knowledge of the Norwegian language and a degree or qualifications obtained in Norway to careers in which you don’t need a university education or fluency in Norwegian. 

The biggest labour shortfall was for health and care services, with a shortage of around 13,000 workers. In addition, some roles in the healthcare sector are hard to secure for foreign nationals as they typically require very high Norwegian proficiency and to have your qualifications approved before you are cleared to work in Norway. 

Figures from the national data agency Statistics Norway show that nurses in Norway made an average monthly salary of 51,020 kroner a month in 2022. Specialist Nurses made around 10 per cent more, taking home 56,940 kroner per month. 

Primary school teachers, who have also been featured in previous NAV reports on labour shortfalls, take home an average of 47,350 kroner each month. 

NAV’s figures also found that there is a shortage of cooks in Norway. Generally, working as a cook in Norway will require either a previous work history in kitchens or qualifications or a combination. 

Many kitchens may use English as the primary working language due to the number of foreigners working in the Norwegian hospitality sector. Figures show that cooks make an average of 37,990 kroner per month. However, this doesn’t include tips, which are commonly shared among all restaurant staff in Norway but are taxed. 

 Those with a craft are also in demand in Norway. Tradesmen in Norway, on average, earned a wage of 43,930 kroner each month. However, the salary available to craftsmen varied depending on their job. Electricians were the highest-earning craftsmen, making around 47,060 kroner on average. Painters were the lowest-paid craftsmen, earning around 41,000 kroner per month. 

Typically to work as a tradesman in Norway, you will need to have obtained qualifications comparable to the Norwegian equivalent. Trades involved in construction usually require a strong grasp of English; some jobs will also require Norwegian. 

Shop and sales workers were another industry in demand, according to NAV. Sales professionals in Norway made an average of 39,140 kroner per month in 2022. Those who worked in stores and ticket booths made a similar amount of money per month, while those who worked in markets made an average of 54,450 kroner per month. As the job involves dealing with the public, conversational Norwegian is typically required.