Job Opportunities in Sweden After Masters

Working in Sweden after masters presents many opportunities to expatriates from across the globe. Although the taxes are relatively high, the system offers top-notch healthcare services and high quality of life. An expat in this country can benefit from the high-technology capitalism coupled with a system of lucrative welfare benefits. In spite of the 2008 recession, the nation enjoys a robust economy with high-quality internal and external communications. The job market is competitive, but certain sectors need more workers. The Swedish government has made it easier for foreigners to work in such sectors.

What are the possible job opportunities in Sweden after masters? It mostly depends on the pursued area of study. Finding employment after earning a degree is straightforward for those who study subjects relating to Information Technology or computer science. Additionally, those who pursue subjects related to mechanical engineering have wider options because of the presence of international firms.

The Swedes maintain a healthy balance between their work and private lives. Flexitime, work from home, and Fika breaks are very common in this nation. Fika breaks are simply breaks from work for a cup of coffee or tea, which happen two-three times daily. But, it’s still essential to stay punctual, be humble, and respect co-workers. Team work and individual responsibilities are highly valued by the Swedes. Nevertheless, the Swedish business environment is informal and casual. Workers are free to wear jeans and sandals to work if they don’t want to wear fancy suits. While the business culture seems very relaxed, the Swedish labour force is among the most productive worldwide.

In this article you will find out:

The Largest Industries in Sweden

According to its Gross Domestic Product per capita, this nation is among the richest European countries. It has a thriving export-oriented economic model that’s heavily reliant on manufacturing. Tourism, agriculture and finance are also prominent industries in the Scandinavian nation.

· Agriculture: In the start of the 20th century, about half of the Swedish workforce sourced their livelihood from agricultural activities. During the 1950s the number dropped to 20% and by 1999 only 2% of the workforce was involved in agriculture. Nonetheless, the country is endowed with significant natural resources, and its agricultural output is more than the domestic consumption. Though it still imports a significant portion of food products. About 6.8% of the Swedish land mass is arable and majority of the farmers are the elderly. The government is highly concerned by the fact that most farms don’t have successors to continue farming practices.

· Manufacturing: The Scandinavian country has a flourishing export-oriented manufacturing sector which contributes largely to the nation’s economy. Employees in the private manufacturing industries are fewer than those in public manufacturing fields. Automotive is the biggest sector under the manufacturing industry, accounting for almost 50% of the industrial value-added. The Swedish automotive and aerospace production plants are situated in the southern region of the nation. And some of the biggest auto manufacturers are Volvo and Saab. The electronics and electric sites are mainly in Stockholm and Vasteras. Stenungsund, which lies on the Western coast, is well-known for its successful petrochemical industry. Furthermore, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals are among the fastest growing sectors in the nation.

· Tourism: The tourism sector accounts for a fairly small portion of the Swedish economy. About 7.1% of household income in the Scandinavian nation is spent on local tourism. Majority of the visitors who come to the nation are primarily from nearby countries, like Denmark, Finland and Norway. Some of the most popular attractions are the Vasa Museum, Drottningholm Palace Theatre, and the Swedish cultural scene.

· Trade and Finance: The nation exports finished goods, which are mostly engineering products including telecommunication tools, vehicles, and hydroelectric power plant equipment. Exports contribute approximately a third of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The nation’s imports are more diversified in comparison to the exports. Originally, petroleum was the most crucial import, especially before the 1980s.

Top Industries for Getting a Job

Here are the top industries in the Scandinavian country that require more workers:

· Healthcare: The Swedes have access to publicly funded, universal, and automatic medical care. With immigration pushing the growth of the nation’s population, there’s a rising demand for nurses, physicians, psychiatrics, radiologists etc.

· Technical/science: The Scandinavian nation is home to globally-renowned research facilities such as the Chalmers University of Technology. Swedish government funding has helped to keep the employment market strong for science research careers.

· Construction: After recovery from the economic downturn of 2012, the country’s construction sector grew by 12.1% in 2014. The growth increased demand for residential and commercial construction.

Which Jobs Offer the Highest Salaries?

The Scandinavian nation is a haven for a high standard of living and social welfare. Located in Northern Europe, the country boasts some of the greatest benefits in the globe. For example, parents receive 480 days of paid leave for every child, free medical care, and subsidised day care for their kids. In spite of the high taxation rates, Swedish workers enjoy some of the highest wages in the EU and excellent perks. Therefore, it’s possible to make enough money working here, especially for those with the right occupation.

For any expat looking to enter the Swedish job market, the following are some of the best paying career.

· Vice President: The vice president of an organization is responsible for helping the company attain its financial objectives and boost operations. The average compensation for a vice president with a master’s degree is 1,435,335 SEK (€132,933) per year.

· Chief Investment Officer: They are accountable for understanding, monitoring and managing an organization’s asset portfolio, devising growth strategies, and liaising with investors. The earning potential for a Chief Investment Officer with a master’s degree is 1,154,904 SEK (€106,958) per annum

· Creative Director: Such professionals are essential for developing a creative environment in agencies where excellent ideas need to be born and flourish. The average salary is 783,659 SEK (€72,579) annually for graduate creative directors

· Haematology-Oncology Physician: Doctors in the haematology/oncology sector offer direct patient care in inpatient and ambulatory medical settings. With a masters, such physicians earn 1,921,240 SEK (€177,942) yearly

· Enterprise Architecture Manager: They are responsible for the provision of extensive operations service for application management, and custom development. The average annual wage of graduate enterprise architecture managers is 887,777 SEK (€82,224)

· Managing Director: Such professionals oversee the general management and performance of an organisation and report to the board. With a masters, managing directors earn an average of 1,256,488 SEK (€116,376) annually

· Aviation Manager: An aviation manager plans flights schedules, oversees aircraft maintenance and manages staff. With a masters, an aviation manager can potentially earn 991,947 SEK (€91,874) per year

Where to Search for Jobs

The Swedish Public Employment Agency provides support to persons searching for employment. Foreigners can also turn to the myriad of privately run job websites. Such sites usually display job listings (most are in Swedish) and functions for uploading curriculum vitae. Some of the job websites are:

careerbuilder.se
stepstone.se
jobb.blocket.se
moster.se
jobbmaskinen.se
metrojobb.se
jobbsafari.se
studentjob.se
graduateland.com
The local.se/jobs
neuvoo- global job source
LinkedIn’s job search portal

Foreign nationals can also look for jobs at Swedish recruitment agencies, such as:

Academic Work
TNG
Adecco
Undutchables
OnePartnerGroup
Incluso
Randstad
Manpower

Another excellent starting point for a job seeker is the EURES database, which provides job listings from EU nations.

The Scandinavian country could also be an excellent place for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit. That’s because it’s home to many start-ups, and ranks highly on the list of billion-dollar tech firms per capita. The streaming music firm, Spotify, is probably the best known example of a thriving Swedish start-up.

With its stunning views, historic landmarks and delicious foods, it’s easy to fall in love with the Swedish environment. Music fans will also enjoy the buzzing music scene.

The biggest drawback of working in this Scandinavian country is the steep taxation. Tax rates for marginal effective income go as high as 56.9%. Moreover, the cost of living isn’t uniformly affordable everywhere, with Stockholm being one of the most expensive cities in Europe.

Non-natives in this country need to take several steps to get hired. They require a work permit, which needs an employment offer, and proof that the pay is sufficient to support oneself. The whole process can take up to 12 months. However, for those who have legal residence in the country, a Fast Track Program expedites the process of acquiring a job in high-demand career like education, medical care and social work.

Everybody else can make an application for a work permit at any Swedish embassy abroad or via the nation’s immigration site.