People looking for work in Sweden are expected to be proactive to a large degree and make use of the ‘self-service’ options available, especially on the Internet.

The Swedish Employment Service’s website is by far the largest and most popular job site. Vacancies throughout the country and in other countries are advertised there. It is possible to search by location and by profession. Usually employers’ details are given, so it is possible to contact them directly. The adverts are in Swedish, and most employers require applicants to have knowledge of Swedish. 

There is also a lot of other information about how to look for work and about the labour market and studying. There are lists of links to private job sites, daily newspapers and recruitment and staffing agencies. Apart from information about vacancies, there is also a CV database where job seekers can register their qualifications. 

General information and support for self-service can be provided by Customer Services at the Swedish Employment Service by phone on +46-(0)771-416 416. 

Vacancies that are specifically aimed at job seekers in other countries can be found on the EURES portal. These are marked with an EU flag. 
Contact private employment and staffing agencies and use personal contacts and ask for tips. Many jobs are never advertised externally. Taking the initiative to contact an employer for whom you would like to work is common and is usually seen in a positive light. Lists of companies in various sectors can be found in databases such as Företagsfakta (company facts) and the phone book’s Gula Sidor (yellow pages). 

Daily and local newspapers, as well as free newspapers such as Metro, contain a large number of job adverts. Thursdays and Sundays are the days when there are usually the most adverts. These adverts can also be accessed via the Internet.

Text last edited on: 11/2009