The labor market in Luxembourg is specific. International and multilingual, it requires more or less advanced language skills depending on the sectors and professions you are targeting. Find out more about working in Luxembourg for EU citizens, the most popular jobs and useful tips

Luxembourg is a small country located in the heart of Europe. The state attracts foreign workers with the best standard of living in the Eurozone, a stable economy and one of the highest salaries in the world. The unemployment rate in Luxembourg has remained relatively stable in recent years and currently stands at 6.6%.

According to statistics, about 70% of the working population of Luxembourg are immigrants or border workers. Despite the high level of competition, there are vacancies in Luxembourg for both highly skilled professionals and unskilled workers.

How to find a job in Luxembourg? A detailed guide follows.

Work in Luxembourg for EU citizens

Citizens of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Sweden have the right to unimpeded employment in Luxembourg. Also, when searching for a candidate for a vacancy, the national employment agency of Luxembourg gives preference to residents of Europe.

That is why about 200,000 foreigners work in Luxembourg, most of whom go to work across the border every day: 50% of employees are French citizens, followed by Belgium (25%) and Germany (25%). Thus, 45% of domestic employment is accounted for by cross-border workers.

How to find a job in Luxembourg for citizens of other countries?

Citizens of third countries, that is, those who do not have a European passport (Ukrainians, Turks, Canadians) for employment in Luxembourg must go through a number of procedures before coming to the Grand Duchy.

The main task is to find an employer and sign an employment contract with him. Convincing a local company of its own merits may not be easy, as a large number of Europeans work in Luxembourg, but it is quite possible.

Employment of a foreigner in Luxembourg can be divided into several stages:

1st stage – notify the National Employment Agency

In order to hire a foreigner, the employer must notify the National Employment Agency (Agence pour le développement de l'emploi – ADEM) about the vacancy. If there are no local or European job candidates within 3 weeks, then it is allowed to apply for a job from a representative of other countries. To confirm its decision, ADEM will issue an appropriate permit. It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to receive the certificate.

2nd stage - sign the employment contract

The employer and the foreigner sign a contract in which the terms of relocation, cultural and language adaptation, reimbursement of costs in the event of termination of the contract at their own will and at the initiative of the company will be written in detail.

In addition, the contract specifies information about the parties, the place and time of work, the job description and duties, the amount of wages and additional payments if they are available, the duration of vacation and the probationary period, etc.

Stage 3 – Obtain a work permit in Luxembourg

After signing the employment contract, the foreigner must apply to the Luxembourg consulate for an employment permit.

Documents for obtaining a permit are considered by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg. The following information is usually required:

1. A copy of a valid foreign passport.

2. Birth certificate.

3. Copies of diplomas and other certificates confirming qualification.

4. Duly completed resume, short biography and motivation letter.

5. Certificate of no criminal record.

6. A copy of the employment contract and certificate of right to work received from ADEM.

All documents must be translated into one of the following languages - French, German or English.

In case of a positive decision, you will receive a long-term visa type D.

Read more about the available types of work visas in Luxembourg at the link.

Step 4 – Upon arrival in Luxembourg

After arriving in Luxembourg, you must register at the municipal office (Kommune) of your place of residence within 3 working days and start working.

In addition, within 3 months you will need to undergo a medical examination, read more about the health care system of the Grand Duchy here, and submit an application to the migration service for a temporary residence permit.

Initially, the document is issued for one year with the right of extension and allows you to work only in a certain profession. After 5 years of work in Luxembourg, a permanent residence permit is granted, and after 10 years you can get citizenship.

The most popular vacancies in Luxembourg

Luxembourg does not have a major labor shortage, but a number of sectors are constantly recruiting with varying skill levels, including finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, construction and hospitality.

According to ADEM, the top 10 most popular professions and open vacancies in Luxembourg: specialist in financial audit, accounting, IT research and development, expertise and technical support of information systems, specialist in credit risk analysis, secretary, restaurant service worker, cook, legal consultant and system analyst.

English-speaking employees are advised to pay attention to work in the banking and IT sectors, where English is in high demand.

Job search in Luxembourg

You can find a suitable job, including English-speaking vacancies in Luxembourg, in several ways:

1. On job search sites - Relocate.me, GovJobs and EURES, specifying Luxembourg as the location or on local portals: Optioncarriere.lu, Indeed.lu, Moovijob.com. 

2. On the official website of the State Employment Service of Luxembourg - ADEM.

3. In social networks and messengers: LinkedIn, Facebook, Telegram.

4. With the help of friends and acquaintances.

Useful information and advice for employment in Luxembourg

1. A well-written resume and cover letter are key elements of the employment process in Luxembourg:

- The resume should be written in English and/or French and well structured. Fill in the information in 5 separate sections: contacts, education, experience, personal projects and skills. When writing a resume, use a normal font and place all information on an A4 sheet. Use headings and bullets to keep your text consistent and clear.

- Also, a cover letter must be added to the package of documents - it must be written in the language of the vacancy or in English. It will include information about the position you are applying for and a brief description of your work experience.

2. Luxembourg, like the rest of the EU countries, takes the hiring process very seriously. Generally, job seekers from abroad will go through several online interviews that last an average of 45-60 minutes.

3. The largest employers in Luxembourg are: Luxembourg Post (telecommunications), Groupe CFL (transport), Cactus (food retail), Groupe Dussmann (security), BGL BNP Paribas (finance), ArcelorMittal (steel), Goodyear Dunlop ( tire production) and Luxair (transport).

4. Improve your language skills - the job market in Luxembourg is specific. International and multilingual, it requires more or less in-depth knowledge of languages depending on the sectors and professions you target. Are you bilingual or trilingual? These are all significant advantages. Emphasize these strengths in your resume. Although French remains the most common language at work, some sectors have their own peculiarities. The public sector and the health sector require knowledge of the Luxembourgish language. Work in trade and industry requires knowledge of the German language. The financial and consulting sectors are more English-speaking.

5. The average salary in Luxembourg in 2023 after paying taxes and other mandatory deductions is about 3,295 euros per month. For example, 400 euros more than in Sweden. The minimum wage from February 1, 2023 is set at EUR 2,447.07 per month for unskilled workers and EUR 2,936.48 for skilled workers. This is the highest indicator in the European Union.

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Igor Usyk - Head of Legal Department at Visit World

For safe relocation to Luxembourg, obtaining refugee status and employment, use the advice of an international lawyer. We help to solve complex and simple issues for your comfort and safety in Luxembourg.

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