Working in Norway: moving, work culture and job opportunities

Moving to Norway can be an exciting career step that offers new professional opportunities and one of the highest qualities of life in the world. This article is aimed at anyone wishing to emigrate to work in Norway and highlights key aspects such as the unique work culture, current job opportunities, legal framework and starting your own business. Use this guide to prepare optimally for your move to the land of the fjords, the midnight sun and the unique lifestyle of friluftsliv.

Norwegian work culture differs from German in several essential respects. Norwegians are considered a very calm people who take their time even under time pressure and radiate serenity. Goals are pragmatically adjusted if they are not realistically achievable within a certain timeframe. A central difference from Germany: while leadership in Germany is often equated with control, responsibility with pressure, and performance with presence, Norway relies on completely different values: trust, equality and personal responsibility. Norwegians start with 100 percent trust – what employees do with it is up to them. This high level of trust also extends to working hours: in Norway, it is completely normal to leave the office at 4 p.m. – without feeling guilty. Work is a part of life there, not the centre.

Statutory working time regulations are set out in the Working Environment Act. The regular maximum working time is 9 hours per day and 40 hours per week. In practice, however, many workplaces have agreed a 37.5‑hour week. By comparison, in Germany the collectively agreed weekly working time is often 38 to 40 hours. Overtime is the absolute exception in Norway; it may only be ordered when there is a special need. The statutory overtime supplement is at least 40 percent, and many workplaces have their own, even more generous rules. Unlike in Germany, where overtime is part of everyday working life in many sectors and is only partially compensated, overtime in Norway is clearly regulated and is compensated with a significant bonus.

In Norway, employees are entitled to at least 25 working days of holiday per year. Working days are all days except Sundays and public holidays, which corresponds to four weeks and one day. A clear difference from Germany: employees over 60 are entitled to an additional week of holiday, i.e., a total of 31 working days. Holiday pay is calculated on the basis of the previous year's income and is statutorily at least 10.2 percent of gross salary (12.5 percent for those over 60), which is usually paid out in June before the main holiday season. During the main holiday period from 1 June to 30 September, employees have the right to take three weeks of their holiday consecutively. In addition, there are several public holidays, including New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Liberation Day (8 May), Constitution Day (17 May), Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, as well as Christmas and St Stephen's Day.

The Norwegian labour market remains interesting for skilled workers from abroad in 2026, even though competition has increased. According to forecasts from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration NAV, the unemployment rate in 2026 will be about 2.1 percent. However, the labour market has become more competitive: in 2025, there were almost 12 percent fewer job postings than in the previous year, while the number of applicants rose by over 12 percent. German skilled professionals have an advantage: Norwegians attach great importance to punctuality and reliability – qualities that characterise German employees.

Skilled workers are particularly in demand in healthcare and social services, where with over 46,000 job vacancies in 2025, care workers, nurses, doctors and medical professionals are urgently needed – good Norwegian language skills are essential here. In engineering and technology, engineers for renewable energies (especially hydropower), civil engineers and IT specialists (software development, cybersecurity) are in high demand. The need for teachers and scientific specialists has risen by 7.5 percent, and even the cleaning and renovation sector recorded an increase in job postings of 16.8 percent. Unlike in Germany, where a statutory minimum wage exists, Norway has no general statutory minimum wage – instead, wages are negotiated through collective agreements between trade unions and employers' associations, leading to sectoral differences.

Thanks to EU freedom of movement, access to the Norwegian labour market for German citizens is completely straightforward. Norway is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Schengen Area. EU and EEA citizens generally do not need a work permit for short stays. For a stay of more than three months, however, registration with the local police is required to obtain a registration certificate. Unlike in Germany, where registration with the registration office (citizen's office) is sufficient, in Norway registration with the police is mandatory. The Norwegian identification number (D‑number for temporary stays or fødselsnummer for permanent stays) is the key to work, a bank account and a health card.

For those planning to emigrate to Norway and work as freelancers or entrepreneurs, the country offers a modern, digitalised environment. Company formation involves fewer bureaucratic hurdles than in Germany. Important steps: applying for a D‑number (temporary identification number) from the tax authority Skatteetaten, registering with the Brønnøysund Register Centre (Norwegian commercial register), registering with NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration) for social security purposes, and setting up a Norwegian bank account.

Norway does not levy a trade tax – a major advantage over Germany. Corporate income tax is 22 percent for companies. Self‑employed persons pay an increased social security contribution of 10.8 percent of their income. The annual tax return is digitally pre‑filled; entrepreneurs must actively report their income. Sufficient liquidity is crucial for the first few months, as Norwegian banks often require stricter credit checks for start‑ups than German banks.

Norway offers German skilled professionals excellent career opportunities, attractive salaries and one of the best work‑life balances in the world. Thanks to EEA membership, access to the labour market is extremely easy. The work culture convinces with flat hierarchies, a statutory 37.5‑hour week, generous holiday entitlements and a balanced work‑life balance. Those willing to adapt to the Norwegian language and the open, trust‑based work culture will find an ideal environment for professional and personal success in Norway. KOCH Moving Logistics stands by your side as a reliable partner and ensures that your move to Norway runs smoothly – so you can focus entirely on starting your career.