Looking for a job in Oslo? Fewer opportunities in construction
If you are planning to come to Oslo for work, especially in construction, it's better to secure a specific job offer first. In July, there were 12,121 people in the capital who were completely unemployed, and the number of new job ads has dropped. The biggest decline is in construction.
Heading to Oslo to look for construction work? Check job offers first
MN
Oslo still has the highest unemployment in Norway. More than half of registered unemployed people have been out of work for at least six months.
NAV points out that the longer someone stays out of the job market, the harder it is to return to employment.
Construction has slowed down
In July, about 4,900 new job offers appeared in Oslo. That's about 6 percent less than a year earlier.
The biggest drop was in bygg og anlegg, meaning construction and building works.
This is important information for those who want to come to Oslo without a signed contract and look for work as a carpenter, painter, helper, concrete worker, or construction worker only after arrival.
You can still look for work, but competition is tougher than during periods when companies were hiring almost immediately.
Don't go blindly
Before leaving, it's worth doing three things:
- check current offers on Arbeidsplassen and Finn,
- send your CV from Poland and schedule your first interviews,
- calculate if you have enough money for accommodation and living for a few weeks without a salary.
Oslo itself no longer guarantees easy job hunting. If there are few offers in your profession, it's worth checking other regions of Norway before deciding to move.
The highest unemployment in Oslo was recorded in Søndre Nordstrand, and the lowest in Vestre Aker.
Source: Vårt Oslo / NAV Oslo, data for July 2026.
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