Module 1

Working Life

Learn about jobs, contracts, pay, holidays, illness, rights, trade unions and NAV.

Last updated: 2026-11-06

Working life in Norway

Work is an important part of life in Norway. Many people feel that having a job means you can support yourself and take part in society. In 2025, about 70 out of 100 people aged 15 to 74 were employed. It is normal for both women and men to work, and many women are bosses and leaders.

The labour market has two parts:

• Public sector: workplaces owned by the state, the county municipalities or the municipalities. Examples are schools, hospitals and NAV. About three in ten jobs are in the public sector.
• Private sector: companies owned by private people or firms, for example shops, banks and building companies.

The largest number of people work in health and social services, for example in nursing homes, hospitals and home care.

Norwegian working life is marked by trust and small differences between boss and employees. You say "du" (you) to the boss, and it is fine to speak up if you disagree. Being on time is important. Many workplaces also have a dugnad, where everyone helps with a shared task.

Norwegian working life is built on laws and agreements. Important laws are the Working Environment Act, the Holidays Act and the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act. In addition, the state, the employers and the employees work together to make good rules. This cooperation is called the tripartite cooperation (trepartssamarbeidet).

Norway has no statutory minimum wage for everyone. Pay is agreed between employer and employee, often in a collective agreement.

The full module and all questions are in the app.

Key points

Working life in Norway

• About 70% of people aged 15 to 74 were employed in 2025
• Public sector means state, county municipality and municipality (about 30% of jobs)
• Most people work in health and social services
• There is no general statutory minimum wage in Norway
• Key laws: Working Environment Act, Holidays Act, Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act

Finding a job: CV, application and skills

• A CV shows education, experience and skills
• Formal competence can be documented with papers; real competence is experience
• HK-dir assesses foreign education
• Qualification principle: the best qualified person gets the public sector job
• An employer cannot ask about pregnancy or discriminate because of religion

The employment contract and probation period

• The employer must provide a written contract at the latest one month after you start
• The main rule is permanent employment
• Probation is six months at most and must be agreed in writing
• Notice during probation is 14 days
• You can negotiate pay before signing

Working hours, breaks and overtime

• Normal working hours are at most 9 hours a day and 40 hours a week
• Break: at least 30 minutes if you work 8 hours or more
• The overtime supplement is at least 40%
• Night work (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) is forbidden as a main rule
• Children can do light work from the age of 13

Pay, tax and undeclared work

• The tax card shows how much tax the employer deducts
• A frikort is for low income; the limit is set every year
• You check your tax return (skattemelding) every year
• Undeclared work gives in practice no holiday pay, sick pay or pension rights
• The employer sends an a-melding every month

Holidays and holiday pay

• The Holidays Act gives at least 25 working days (4 weeks and 1 day)
• Holiday pay is 10.2% of last year's pay under the Holidays Act
• Holiday pay is usually paid in June
• You have the right to three weeks in a row in summer
• If you fall ill on holiday and have a certificate, you can postpone the days

Illness, self-certification and sick pay

• Self-certification needs two months of employment: up to 3 days at a time, 4 times a year
• Many workplaces have an extended scheme: 8 days at a time and 24 days a year
• The employer pays the first 16 days, then NAV
• Norway has no waiting day
• You are protected from dismissal because of illness for up to 12 months

Dismissal, discrimination and rights

• Dismissal needs a fair reason and must be in writing
• Standard notice is one month, counted from the first day of the next month
• In downsizing seniority is often given weight
• Equal pay means equal pay for equal work or work of equal value
• You have the right to blow the whistle on objectionable conditions

Trade unions, collective agreements and the working environment

• About half of employees are union members
• LO is the largest employee organisation, NHO the employers' one
• A collective agreement covers pay, hours and other conditions
• The shop steward represents members; the safety representative watches safety
• Arbeidstilsynet checks that the Working Environment Act is followed

Unemployment and NAV

• Unemployment benefit needs a loss of at least half your working hours and registration as a job seeker
• A status form (meldekort) is submitted every 14 days
• Benefit is about 62% of earlier income, for up to 104 weeks
• AAP is for people who are ill or injured and need help returning to work
• Social assistance is the municipality's last safety net

Sample questions from this module

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