Decoding the Nordic Software Jobs Ecosystem: What 4,631 Job Ads Reveal
By Idego Group
The analysis examined 4,631 software job advertisements from LinkedIn across Nordic countries: Finland (1,121), Norway (1,044), Sweden (1,040), and Denmark (930), excluding Iceland due to insufficient data.
Workplace Preferences
Denmark leads with 62.68% on-site positions, while Norway follows at 59.5%. Conversely, Sweden and Finland favor hybrid arrangements at 55.49% and 59.5% respectively. Remote work remained unpopular across all Nordic regions.
Experience Level Distribution
Mid-senior professionals dominate demand at 54.67% of openings, while entry-level positions comprise 33.78%. This distribution differs from typical organizational pyramids and mirrors patterns in Germany, Netherlands, and Spain - though the UK showed different preferences favoring entry-level candidates.
Industry Landscape
Information Technology & Services captured 32.52% of positions, with Staffing and Recruiting at 11%. Financial Services (5.29%), Internet (5.17%), and Mechanical/Industrial Engineering (3.74%) followed. The remaining 187 industries formed a diverse long tail seeking software expertise.
In-Demand Skills
The analysis identified 956 distinct skills. After removing generic terms like "programming" and "software development," specific technical competencies emerged as most sought.
Job Description Analysis
Employers emphasized work environment quality, flexibility, personal development, and company culture. Interestingly, recruiters focused on comprehensive benefits packages rather than explicit salary discussions, prioritizing work-life balance and wellness initiatives.