The national dossier: live jobs by county and field, official labour statistics, work law, permits, qualifications and cost of living. Compare the 15 counties and open a guide for each.
low → high: live ads per 1,000 jobs, by county
Click a county or a city. Counties: Oslo · Østfold · Akershus · Buskerud · Innlandet · Vestfold · Telemark · Agder · Rogaland · Vestland · Møre og Romsdal · Trøndelag · Nordland · Troms · Finnmark.
By AtiveSite · Published 06/11/2026 · Updated 06/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Norway has 5,627,400 residents and 2,872,856 jobs (employed persons by place of work, Q4 2025). The national labour force survey shows an employment rate of 69.8% (ages 15–74) and an unemployment rate of 5.0% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted; the monthly figures were 4.1% in July and 4.6% in August, so read the trend, not one month). Today 9,991 job ads are live in the NAV feed.
All 9,991 jobs in Norway →City guide: Oslo
Read next: 50 largest cities · 100 largest companies · 50 best job niches
| County (fylke) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Jobs (workplace) ⇅ | Live ads ⇅ | Ads per 1,000 jobs ⇅ | Top field by ads ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo | 728,714 | 538,130 | 1,474 | 2.7 | Health & social care |
| Østfold | 316,448 | 127,120 | 438 | 3.4 | Health & social care |
| Akershus | 749,207 | 317,084 | 920 | 2.9 | Health & social care |
| Buskerud | 272,981 | 126,962 | 475 | 3.7 | Health & social care |
| Innlandet | 379,488 | 174,341 | 659 | 3.8 | Health & social care |
| Vestfold | 259,332 | 113,454 | 324 | 2.9 | Health & social care |
| Telemark | 177,923 | 78,857 | 279 | 3.5 | Health & social care |
| Agder | 323,930 | 149,319 | 466 | 3.1 | Health & social care |
| Rogaland | 508,922 | 269,290 | 801 | 3.0 | Health & social care |
| Vestland | 658,342 | 338,463 | 1,207 | 3.6 | Health & social care |
| Møre og Romsdal | 273,169 | 133,756 | 588 | 4.4 | Health & social care |
| Trøndelag | 489,166 | 249,163 | 811 | 3.3 | Health & social care |
| Nordland | 243,272 | 118,984 | 708 | 6.0 | Health & social care |
| Troms | 171,218 | 90,747 | 559 | 6.2 | Health & social care |
| Finnmark | 75,288 | 38,486 | 247 | 6.4 | Health & social care |
Ads per 1,000 jobs = live NAV ads ÷ jobs by place of work × 1,000: a rough indicator of current hiring activity relative to the size of the local labour market, not a forecast and not a ranking of "best" places.
Compare two counties
9,991 active ads. Full-time 70% · permanent (Fast) 66% · substitute (Vikariat) 19% · private sector 45% · public sector 51%. Open the job search →
| Field ⇅ | Open ads ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Health & social care (Helse og sosial) | 3,412 | 34.2% |
| Education (Utdanning) | 1,632 | 16.3% |
| Sales & service (Salg og service) | 1,402 | 14.0% |
| Office & finance (Kontor og økonomi) | 912 | 9.1% |
| Skilled trades (Håndverkere) | 628 | 6.3% |
| Tourism & food (Reiseliv og mat) | 451 | 4.5% |
| Construction (Bygg og anlegg) | 366 | 3.7% |
| IT (IT) | 281 | 2.8% |
| Transport & warehouse (Transport og lager) | 279 | 2.8% |
| Industry & production (Industri og produksjon) | 229 | 2.3% |
| Security & emergency (Sikkerhet og beredskap) | 137 | 1.4% |
| Culture & creative (Kultur og kreative yrker) | 132 | 1.3% |
| Nature & environment (Natur og miljø) | 90 | 0.9% |
| Sub-category (NAV, Norwegian) ⇅ | Field ⇅ | Open ads ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Sykepleier | Health & social care | 898 |
| Salg, butikk- og varehandel | Sales & service | 891 |
| Barnehage- og skolefritidsassistenter | Education | 553 |
| Helsefagarbeider | Health & social care | 494 |
| Hjemmehjelper og personlig assistent | Health & social care | 404 |
| Barnehagelærer | Education | 396 |
| Lege | Health & social care | 346 |
| Kontor, forvaltning og saksbehandling | Office & finance | 332 |
| Grunnskole | Education | 287 |
| Miljøarbeidere | Health & social care | 275 |
| Ledelse, administrasjon og rådgivning | Office & finance | 228 |
| Andre helseyrker | Health & social care | 228 |
| Renholdere og renovasjon | Sales & service | 222 |
| Utvikling | IT | 206 |
| Universitet og høyskole | Education | 198 |
| Kokk | Tourism & food | 162 |
| Andre ingeniører | Construction | 158 |
| Vernepleier | Health & social care | 149 |
| Restaurant | Tourism & food | 141 |
| Tog-, sporvogn- og vegtrafikk | Transport & warehouse | 136 |
Ads are job offers, not the number of jobs that exist. NAV does not publish salary, so none is shown or estimated. Ads are removed when NAV marks them inactive.
Pick your field to see which counties have the most openings, and the most relative to their job market: Health & social care · Office & finance · Sales & service · Education · IT · Tourism & food · Skilled trades · Construction · Transport & warehouse · Industry & production · Culture & creative · Security & emergency · Nature & environment.
Norway had 2,872,856 employed persons by place of work in Q4 2025 (+0.3% vs 2024). The "specialisation index" is this area's share of employment in the industry divided by the national share: above 1 means the industry weighs more here than in Norway as a whole.
| Industry (SSB divisions) ⇅ | Employed ⇅ | Share here ⇅ | Share Norway ⇅ | Specialisation index ⇅ | Change 2024–25 ⇅ | Change 2020–25 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 65,713 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.00 | +0.6% | +3.1% |
| Mining and quarrying | 67,239 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.00 | +1.5% | +14.4% |
| Manufacture | 220,883 | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1.00 | +1.6% | +6.8% |
| Electricity, water supply, sewerage, waste management | 37,501 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.00 | +0.8% | +14.5% |
| Construction | 232,946 | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1.00 | -1.9% | +1.2% |
| Wholesale and retail trade: repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 355,144 | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1.00 | +0.2% | +3.4% |
| Transportation and storage | 137,310 | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1.00 | +0.4% | +6.7% |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 107,325 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1.00 | +2.9% | +33.0% |
| Information and communication | 116,155 | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1.00 | -0.6% | +15.0% |
| Financial and insurance activities | 53,126 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.00 | -0.9% | +11.8% |
| Real estate, professional, scientific and technical activities | 196,033 | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1.00 | +0.4% | +13.2% |
| Administrative and support service activities | 127,377 | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1.00 | -1.2% | +1.0% |
| Human health and social work activities | 597,565 | 20.8% | 20.8% | 1.00 | +0.5% | +6.1% |
| Other service activities | 123,723 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1.00 | +1.7% | +14.2% |
Employed persons 15–74 registered at their workplace municipality; self-employed included. "n/a": SSB county boundaries changed in 2020 and 2024, so a 2020 figure does not exist for this area. Industries with no employment are omitted.
| Month ⇅ | Employment rate % ⇅ | Unemployment rate % ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 2026M07 | 70.2 | 4.1 |
| 2026M08 | 69.8 | 4.6 |
| 2026M09 | 69.8 | 5.0 |
| Occupation (SSB STYRK-08 group) ⇅ | Employees ⇅ | Avg. monthly earnings, NOK ⇅ | Median, NOK ⇅ | Contract hours/week ⇅ | Change vs Q3 2025 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All occupations | 2,882,119 | 61,670 | 56,070 | 29.4 | +4.1% |
| Medical doctors | 28,175 | 103,860 | 100,330 | 31.5 | +3.7% |
| Nursing professionals | 30,738 | 65,070 | 64,010 | 30.7 | +2.7% |
| Software developers | 8,539 | 81,570 | 78,750 | 36.1 | +5.2% |
| Electricians (building) | 34,386 | 55,890 | 55,840 | 35.2 | +4.1% |
| Plumbers and pipe fitters | 20,226 | 54,260 | 54,610 | 35.8 | +4.0% |
| Carpenters and joiners | 44,208 | 49,290 | 48,710 | 35.6 | +4.7% |
| Accountants | 14,685 | 77,160 | 73,080 | 35.6 | +5.0% |
| Primary school teachers | 74,874 | 60,310 | 60,690 | 33.7 | +4.4% |
| Early childhood teachers | 34,029 | 53,250 | 54,510 | 35.0 | +2.7% |
| Cooks | 24,208 | 43,990 | 42,530 | 27.9 | +3.8% |
| Waiters | 28,153 | 38,780 | 37,870 | 18.4 | +4.8% |
| Shop sales assistants | 175,376 | 41,810 | 42,700 | 18.1 | +4.1% |
| Health care assistants | 96,311 | 50,730 | 51,370 | 24.0 | +3.6% |
| Lawyers | 11,597 | 88,610 | 82,040 | 36.7 | +5.5% |
| Civil engineers | 26,880 | 80,970 | 76,410 | 36.8 | +4.5% |
| Physiotherapists | 6,188 | 56,630 | 57,130 | 32.1 | +4.2% |
| Motor vehicle mechanics | 21,669 | 49,170 | 49,730 | 35.3 | +4.1% |
| Painters | 8,429 | 48,160 | 47,030 | 35.4 | +4.0% |
| Bricklayers | 4,017 | 51,410 | 50,000 | 36.0 | +5.2% |
| Welders | 8,410 | 52,890 | 51,230 | 35.7 | +4.1% |
| Security guards | 10,945 | 45,800 | 43,910 | 21.5 | +4.2% |
| Hairdressers | 8,820 | 41,990 | 39,780 | 30.5 | +3.5% |
| Psychologists | 9,595 | 70,390 | 67,430 | 35.2 | +4.0% |
| Social work professionals | 15,508 | 57,420 | 57,100 | 30.8 | +3.7% |
| Dentists | 3,188 | 79,030 | 76,070 | 31.2 | +3.2% |
| Pharmacists | 1,935 | 66,440 | 64,550 | 31.7 | +4.0% |
| Heavy truck and lorry drivers | 27,511 | 49,080 | 47,370 | 34.3 | +3.7% |
| Cleaners and helpers (offices, hotels, other units) | 63,508 | 43,100 | 42,120 | 22.1 | +4.0% |
| Crop farm labourers | 1,736 | 33,350 | 29,710 | 29.3 | -0.7% |
| Livestock farm labourers | 880 | 34,260 | 32,480 | 18.5 | +6.5% |
| Fishery and aquaculture labourers | 264 | 39,070 | 39,160 | 24.5 | +2.8% |
| Building construction labourers | 7,658 | 43,770 | 43,840 | 30.7 | +3.7% |
| Construction supervisors | 13,251 | 69,710 | 66,670 | 36.1 | +4.7% |
| Financial and investment advisers | 9,945 | 82,240 | 75,000 | 36.1 | +4.9% |
| Financial analysts | 17,329 | 82,280 | 75,830 | 35.7 | +4.1% |
| Electrical engineers | 4,817 | 86,200 | 83,330 | 36.8 | +2.8% |
| Mechanical engineers | 5,073 | 87,650 | 85,550 | 36.8 | +3.0% |
| Industrial and production engineers | 1,135 | 73,800 | 66,660 | 36.9 | +4.3% |
| Power production plant operators | 1,686 | 74,790 | 70,960 | 35.3 | +2.6% |
| Domestic housekeepers | 235 | 50,260 | 51,090 | 27.2 | +3.7% |
| Hotel receptionists | 13,221 | 39,510 | 39,120 | 22.9 | +4.5% |
| Hotel managers | 782 | 59,030 | 53,410 | 34.8 | +2.4% |
| Field crop and vegetable growers | 238 | 39,590 | 35,000 | 23.8 | -2.0% |
| Livestock and dairy producers | 3,728 | 39,120 | 38,400 | 17.4 | +3.7% |
| Domestic cleaners and helpers | 464 | 41,690 | 40,000 | 18.6 | +3.9% |
| Building frame and related trades workers (n.e.c.) | 7,114 | 49,540 | 47,520 | 34.9 | +5.1% |
Gross monthly earnings before tax, all employees in Norway (not specific to this place), as defined by SSB. The occupation list is a selection, not the full catalogue. Averages hide big differences by employer, experience and collective agreement. Contract hours include part-time employees.
| Occupation (national average pay) ⇅ | Gross / month, NOK ⇅ | Net / month (est.), NOK ⇅ | Total tax + contribution ⇅ | Left after avg. 2-room rent, NOK ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All occupations | 61,670 | 45,612 | 26% | 30,352 |
| Shop sales assistants | 41,810 | 32,547 | 22% | 17,287 |
| Cooks | 43,990 | 33,994 | 23% | 18,734 |
| Electricians (building) | 55,890 | 41,896 | 25% | 26,636 |
| Nursing professionals | 65,070 | 47,540 | 27% | 32,280 |
| Primary school teachers | 60,310 | 44,831 | 26% | 29,571 |
| Accountants | 77,160 | 54,395 | 30% | 39,135 |
| Software developers | 81,570 | 56,896 | 30% | 41,636 |
| Medical doctors | 103,860 | 68,846 | 34% | 53,586 |
Method: gross annual = average monthly earnings × 12; national insurance contribution 7.6%; standard deduction 46% (max NOK 95,700); personal allowance NOK 114,540; ordinary income tax 22% (assumed unchanged; verify); bracket tax (trinnskatt) steps from NOK 226,100 at 1.7%, 4.0%, 13.7%, 16.8%, 17.8%. Ignores pension contributions, union fees, loan interest, deductions, holiday-pay timing and municipal differences. "Left" subtracts only the average 2-room rent in Oslo and Bærum (NOK 15,260): food, energy, transport, insurance and everything else must still come out of it. It is an illustration, not advice.
| Topic ⇅ | Rule ⇅ | Source ⇅ | Type ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal working hours | Up to 9 hours per 24 hours and 40 hours per 7 days. Lower weekly limits for round-the-clock shift work: 38 h (weekdays) or 36 h (including weekends). | Arbeidstilsynet | Law |
| Overtime | Overtime supplement of at least 40 per cent. Standard limits: 10 h per 7 days, 25 h per 4 weeks, 200 h per 52 weeks (higher with a collective agreement: 20 / 50 / 300). | Working Environment Act §10-6 | Law |
| Breaks and rest | Shifts of 8 h or more: at least 30 minutes of break in total. At least 11 consecutive hours off per 24 hours and 35 hours per 7 days (collective agreements may shorten, never below 8 h / 28 h). | Arbeidstilsynet | Law |
| Paid holiday | 25 working days per holiday year (Sundays and public holidays do not count; Saturdays do, i.e. four weeks and one day). Holiday pay is 10.2 per cent of the pay basis (12.5 per cent for those over 60 with extra holiday), calculated up to 6G. | Holidays Act §5, §10 | Law |
| Sick pay | The employer pays the first 16 days; NAV pays from day 17, up to 6G (NOK 819,294 where 1G = NOK 136,549, as shown by NAV on 06/11/2026). Conditions: at least four weeks of work beforehand and income of at least half of 1G. Maximum 52 weeks for those under 67. | NAV – sickness benefit | Law |
| Notice | One month by default (unless otherwise agreed in writing or by collective agreement); at least two months after five years and three months after ten years with the employer. With a written trial period: 14 days. | Working Environment Act §15-3 | Law |
| Written contract | The Act sets requirements for a written contract of employment (§14-5). | Working Environment Act | Law |
| Minimum wage | No general statutory minimum wage. Legal minimum rates exist only in certain sectors (generally applicable collective agreements). Elsewhere pay is set by contract or by your employer's collective agreement. | Arbeidstilsynet | Law / collective agreement |
| Know your rights | Official summary for people working in Norway, in several languages. | Arbeidstilsynet | Guide |
Law, collective agreement, contract, practice: the law sets the floor; a collective agreement can improve it (and in some cases adjust it); your individual contract can only improve on both; "market practice" is not binding. Sunday, public-holiday and night-work rules are not summarised here: see Arbeidstilsynet. The Lovdata text is an unofficial translation, the Norwegian text prevails; holiday-pay accrual is under review by ESA. Not legal advice.
| Confederation ⇅ | Official site ⇅ | Typical membership profile ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| LO (Landsorganisasjonen) | www.lo.no | Largest confederation; many blue-collar and service unions. |
| Unio | www.unio.no | Professionals with higher education, especially public sector (for example nurses, teachers, police). |
| Akademikerne | www.akademikerne.no | Professionals with higher education (for example doctors, lawyers, engineers). |
| YS | www.ys.no | Confederation of vocational unions in public and private sectors. |
Official pages: Skatteetaten – tax deduction cards.
| Indicator ⇅ | Ads ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Ads whose description is mostly in English | 367 | 3.7% |
| Ads asking for Norwegian language skills (phrase match) | 3,594 | 36.0% |
| Ads mentioning visa, work permit, relocation or sponsorship | 168 | 1.7% |
| Ads mentioning authorisation or licence | 2,257 | 22.6% |
| Ads mentioning remote or hybrid work | 408 | 4.1% |
These are simple text searches in the ad descriptions (Norwegian and English keywords). They are a rough guide, not a legal reading of each ad: always read the ad itself.
| Item (wage earners, 2026) ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| National insurance contribution on wages | 7.6% |
| Personal allowance (personfradrag) | NOK 114,540 |
| Standard deduction on wages | 46% (max NOK 95,700) |
| Bracket tax step 1 from NOK 226,100 | 1.7% |
| Step 2 from NOK 318,300 | 4.0% |
| Step 3 from NOK 725,050 | 13.7% |
| Step 4 from NOK 980,100 | 16.8% |
| Step 5 from NOK 1,467,200 | 17.8% |
Ordinary income tax (22%) is applied on income after deductions; lower rates apply in parts of northern Norway. Confirm current rates on Skatteetaten before relying on them.