The Swedish labour market is famously hard for foreigners to break into. A lack of professional contacts can make it hard to reach that elusive job contract and many jobs require applicants to speak fluent Swedish.
But the summer lull – which sees many locals, including hiring managers, take lengthy holidays – can actually be good news for job seekers.
How many summer jobs are available?
At the time of writing, there are around 53,000 summer jobs listed on the website of the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), with three quarters of those requiring nothing more than a high school diploma.
As usual, many of those jobs are in the healthcare sector, with a shortage of staff in the industry meaning there are good prospects of finding work in the future for anyone considering a change of career.
“Becoming an assistant nurse [undersköterska] is a good career choice,” Public Employment Service analyst Kerstin Eriksson told the TT newswire.
There are also a lot of jobs available with the Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården). A whopping 568 of the 3,370 summer jobs available in Stockholm are within Kriminalvården.
There are also a high number of roles available in the retail industry.
In previous years, there have been a high number of jobs available in the hospitality and tourism industries, including café and restaurant work. These are particularly good options for people who lack Swedish qualifications or who cannot yet speak Swedish.
These are just the jobs available with the Public Employment Service – it’s also worth checking out staffing agencies (in Swedish, bemanningsföretag), The Local's jobs page, and even going analogue and dropping in a CV to local employers you’d be interested in working for.
Who can apply for a summer job?
Although it is technically possible to apply for a work permit for seasonal work, many of the jobs advertised on the Public Employment Service’s website do not fall into this category.
There are, however, a number of groups who can work in Sweden without needing to apply for a work permit:
- EU/EEA citizens and their family members
- People with long-term resident status in another EU country (for up to three months)
- Swiss citizens (for up to three months)
- Permanent residence permit holders
- People with a residence permit to live with someone in Sweden (so-called sambo permits)
- People with residence permits under the Temporary Protection Directive
- Students
- Researchers with a residence permit for research
- Asylum seekers who have been granted a residence permit
- Brits with pre-Brexit residence status
- There are also a number of occupations that do not require a work permit
Be aware that there are also restrictions or other requirements for certain roles, for example some jobs within the Prison and Probation Service require applicants to have Swedish citizenship, and many other summer jobs will also require applicants to have at least some knowledge of Swedish.
Why are summer jobs a good way of breaking into the Swedish labour market?
Swedes are entitled to four consecutive weeks of leave during the summer, which can often leave managers desperate to find cover, especially in competitive industries. Summer jobs are also a great way to network with Swedes in your industry, and a good impression could mean that a manager thinks of you when a more long-term role at the company becomes available.
Even a short-term position over the summer at a major Swedish company can look good on your CV, providing that all-important Swedish work experience or reference when you apply for another role in the future.
Is there anything I should be concerned about?
Make sure you know your rights regarding salary and time off – you still have the right to time off even if you’re working over the summer.
Some information on minimum salary requirements can be found here (in Swedish), and remember never to accept a job offer with no contract or paid in cash, as this likely means you won't be protected by Sweden's generous employment legislation.
In the worst case scenario, a job where you’re paid in cash could be illegal, which could jeopardise your right to live in Sweden and your chances of getting permanent residency or citizenship in the future.
If you’re not sure whether you need a work permit to work in Sweden or not, then it may be a good idea to contact the Swedish Migration Agency for advice.
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