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The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

35.5 hours for shift workers and 37.5 hours for others. This includes a half an hour lunch break.

Retirement Age

67 ans. Starting January 1, 2026, all companies must follow the general retirement age of 72 years.

Working Contracts

Legal clauses regulate employment contracts and to a lesser degree collective agreements and individual negotiations. The terms of employment contracts are rather rigid.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

There is no statutory national minimum wage, but mandatory minimum hourly rates exist for specific sectors (e.g., NOK 239.61 - approx. EUR 20.9 - for unskilled workers in construction) as set by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet).

Average Wage

According to the Statistics Norway, in 2021 Norwegians earned NOK 50,790 per year on average.

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: Employer’s social security contributions are due for all employees in both the private and the public sector. The normal rate for the employer is 14.1 percent on gross earnings. The contribution is geographically differentiated according to the municipality where the work-place is.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: An individual working in Norway is subject to Norwegian social security contributions. The employee’s contribution is 8% based on gross wages. This contribution is not required when the salary is less than NOK 64,650 per year.

Social Partners

Employer Associations

NORSKINDUSTRI - Federation of Norwegian Industry
NHO - Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise
VIRKE - Federation of Norwegian Enterprise

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Norway has strong traditions in collective bargaining, and trade unions hold a prominent position. Although the trade union density rate has been decreasing in recent years, more than half of the Norwegian labour force is still collectively organised. Strong emphasis is placed on central organisations of employers and employees. Compulsory collective agreements supplement legislation in wages, working conditions and benefits. Results of central wage negotiations between the large employee's and employer's organisations serve as guidelines for the local wage negotiations.

Labour Unions

The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO)
Confederation of Unions for Professionals
Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations

Unionisation Rate

52%

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs