Automotive & mobility
Volvo Cars, Volvo Group, Polestar, CEVT, Zenseact, Aurobay. The world's densest cluster of automotive R&D talent.
Jobs & careers
Build your
career here
West Sweden runs on engineering, science and sea. Here's where the jobs are, how recruitment works for internationals — and what to do when both partners need a career.
Industries that shape West Sweden
Life science
AstraZeneca's largest R&D site, Mölnlycke, GoCo Health Innovation City. Strong in oncology, respiratory and digital health.
Tech & software
Lindholmen Science Park hosts 375+ tech companies. Embedded, AI, mobility software and a growing cybersecurity scene.
Port & maritime
Scandinavia's largest port. Logistics, marine engineering, shipping operations and the autonomous-vessel frontier.
Green transition
Battery factories, hydrogen, sustainable steel (H2 Green Steel nearby), circular materials, climate-tech startups.
Creative & media
Game studios, film (Lisa Langseth, Ruben Östlund), advertising agencies and a strong independent music scene.
The honest pitch
We can't compete on salary. We compete on life.
A senior engineer in Gothenburg earns less than in Zurich, London or San Francisco. What you get instead: 5–6 weeks of paid holiday, 480 days of parental leave per child, free university education for your kids, healthcare with a 1,400 SEK annual cap, and a 25-minute commute by tram.
The work is interesting. The hours are sane. Friday afternoon, your colleagues actually leave.
Who's hiring
Volvo Cars
Volvo Group
Polestar
AstraZeneca
Ericsson
SKF
Stena
Hasselblad
Mölnlycke
Zenseact
Embark Studios
Saab
Plus 60,000+ small and medium businesses across the region.
How recruitment works for internationals
01
Apply with an English CV
Most large employers in West Sweden recruit in English. LinkedIn is the default channel. Personliga brev (cover letters) are optional but appreciated.
02
Work permit (if needed)
If you're outside the EU/EEA, your employer applies via Migrationsverket. 4–10 weeks is normal. Family members get permits in parallel.
03
Onboarding & relocation
Larger employers offer relocation packages: temporary housing, school search support, Swedish lessons. Ask before signing.
Support for accompanying partners
We know: if your partner doesn't find a meaningful career here, the family won't stay. It's especially hard in fields like communications, HR and marketing, where Swedish is often required.
International House Gothenburg runs career coaching, mentorship matching and language buddies — and the Move to Gothenburg partner programme connects you with local employers actively hiring international talent.
International House Gothenburg
careers.movetogothenburg.com
A dedicated job board for international roles across West Sweden — curated by us, with relocation support flagged on every listing. Sign up to be notified at launch.
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