New research shows that far fewer people from abroad are choosing to work in Norway, marking a major shift in a trend that has shaped the labour market for the past two decades.
For years, Norway relied heavily on workers from Eastern and Central Europe, especially Poland. Today that flow has slowed dramatically.
Only a third as many labour migrants arrived last year compared with a decade ago, according to figures presented at a recent Fafo seminar.
Fafo is an independent social science research foundation that develops knowledge about the conditions for participation in working life, organisational life, society and politics, the connections between policy and living conditions, and issues of democracy, development and value creation.
Poland Has Changed, And So Has Norway
Poles still make up the largest immigrant group in Norway, with around 217,000 labour migrants from Eastern and Central Europe currently living here. Yet many are now heading home.
Poland’s rapid economic development is a major reason. The country has tripled its GDP per capita in 30 years, unemployment has fallen to 3 percent, and its purchasing power is approaching that of Japan.
“Poland's stock market has been surging, and optimism is growing around its capacity to develop into one of the European Union's most robust and dynamic economies,” stated this Deutsche Welle article.
Simply put, moving to Norway no longer provides the same financial advantage.
At the same time, the Norwegian krone has weakened significantly. Over the past decade, it has lost more than 40 percent of its value against the Polish zloty, making salaries in Norway worth less when sent home or saved.
The Most Educated Are Leaving First
A new OsloMet study of 300,000 labour migrants found that those with the highest education levels are the most likely to leave Norway again.
Researchers suggest that qualified workers now have attractive opportunities elsewhere in Europe, where wages may be competitive and integration support is often stronger.
Integration Gaps Have Played a Role
For 20 years, Norwegian policy assumed that “work equals integration.” EU labour migrants were expected to manage on their own, with no introduction programme and no right to free Norwegian courses.
Fafo researchers now argue this approach has backfired. Many migrants in physically demanding, low-wage sectors report feeling like “second-class citizens,” participating in society but never fully integrated. These experiences may encourage people to build a future elsewhere.
A Europe-Wide Competition for Labour
Norway’s shift is not happening in isolation. Almost every country in Europe is facing labour shortages. According to EU surveys, 99 percent of businesses report difficulty recruiting the right competence.
Poland, once a key source of labour, has itself become a destination country. This raises a difficult question for Norway: when construction picks up again, when industry expands, and when the ageing population increases demand for health and care workers, where will the labour come from?
Immigration Fell Sharply in 2024
The broader migration picture adds context. According to Statistics Norway, immigration fell by 30 percent in 2024.
Fewer Ukrainians arrived than in the previous two years, though refugees remain a historic share of total immigration. Ukrainians are now the second-largest immigrant group in Norway, after Poles.
Work and family immigration also declined, and SSB notes that some EEA migrants may not be registering fully, adding uncertainty to the numbers.
What Happens Next?
Norway is entering a new phase where labour migration can no longer be taken for granted. Economic change in Europe, a weaker krone, and gaps in integration policy mean fewer people are choosing Norway as a place to build a life.
Researchers warn that if Norway wants people to both come and stay, improving integration and working conditions will be more important than ever.
H David. Like tilvik from the UK and live in Trondheim. My wife works, I am a carer for my son. But I want to work part time. From personal experience I find life hard here, but recently I’ve become involved as a guest speaker at DIGs in sentrum. I’m trying to help PhD students obtain employment.
I think there’s a small issue that the Kommune are aware off, that see’s them acknowledging there is a skills shortage, yet, there seems to be a focus to have a good standard of Norsk, over the academic ability, with a PhD to obtain a job.
Fancy meeting for a coffee, I’d be curious to get your onsite in to this…..
As you said in your article, simply being here, is assumed as success intergration. It’s not, and I think Trondheim and Norway need to flex a little, to understand more, about assimilation in to a culture, as it isn’t straight forward. At times it can feel very isolated.
I often think the “lack of Norwegian” is an excuse. Usually for most posts they already have their candidate whether its a friend or family member as the nepotism is rife and they will always choose an underqualified friend/ local over a qualified foreigner. Twice ive been employed and it was in a rush as they needed someone for a project but when the dust settled they would go back to employing their friends, family, etc.
It is no wonder the most educated leaves the first. When you are young, healthy, and smart, there is probably much more reward in other countries like Switzerland, UK, or USA.
In my field, software engineering, the “packages” are far behind other countries . You can find companies in Netherlands, Germany, UK, Switzerland where remote working 1-2 months from abroad are allowed, with salaries that put you above the median generously. Not to mention the weather and sunlight in those countries are already better.
What Norway does the best is that, it kinda “secures” your spot. You probably won’t lose your job to anyone working “too hard”. As long as you fit in, learn the language, and go out and socialize, there will be jobs for you. It is an exclusive society with an ethnic agreement.
The ones that are unhappy are probably looking for a society with a civic agreement, rather than an ethnic one, like US, Canada, Switzerland, UK.
Still, Norway is a good place for an entry level professional, less attractive if you know a lot to sell as over-achievers in this country are frowned upon.
Which country do you come from where you can easily get jobs at PhD levels without speaking the language?
Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Qatar, UAE, etc.
There are many. International working language is a thing. Thats why countries like the ones mentioned are growing and Norway isnt. You can be insular and close the door to these opportunities or you can find a way to make it work to grow your business internationally and talent pool with it.
Hello. I moved Oslo last August and have beend actively looking for a job since October. I was majored mechanical engineering in South Korea, However, it is very hard to get a job. I applied for lots of companies but I never got a chance for job interview. I have been applying only to job postings in Norway where Norwegian is not listed as a mandatory requirement, but I have consistently been unsuccessful. People around me often say that because I am a mechanical engineer, I should be able to find a job relatively easily. However, based on my own research and what I have read recently, the Norwegian job market does not seem to be as strong as many people assume. I have seen multiple accounts saying that even newly graduated Norwegian students are struggling to find jobs at the moment.
Because of this situation, I am considering a different approach. Instead of continuing to apply for jobs immediately, I am planning to apply for a master’s program next year. After completing a master’s degree, I plan to re-enter the job market with stronger qualifications. During my master’s studies, I also intend to focus on improving my Norwegian, as I know language skills are an important factor for long-term career opportunities in Norway.
As a non-EU/EEA citizen, I would like to ask for advice on how to realistically improve my chances of finding a job in Norway. Specifically, what strategies would help a non-EU applicant leverage their academic background and professional skills more effectively? Are there particular steps—such as internships, part-time work, networking, or industry focus—that are especially important for non-EU candidates in engineering fields?
Any practical tips or insights would be greatly appreciated.