Software Developer Hiring Trends in Norway

This report was last updated on Aug 31, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The software job market in Norway has experienced dynamic activity in the past three months, with a notable peak of 306 new software developer roles posted in week 32, amidst significant turnover indicating a competitive landscape for hiring managers.
Norway boasts a substantial talent pool for software engineers, with mid-senior level positions constituting approximately 44% of all roles, demonstrating a strong demand for experienced professionals alongside numerous entry-level opportunities.
Oslo dominates as the primary hub for software engineering job openings, accounting for 91% of positions, followed by Stavanger and Trondheim at 2% each, necessitating strategic recruitment efforts focused on these key locations.
Hiring experienced software developers in Norway remains challenging, as the ratio of talent pool to job openings indicates heightened competition, with CTOs needing to adopt targeted recruitment strategies to attract top talent in this sector.
The median time to hire for software engineers in Norway is currently 33 days, with a significant portion of roles filled within 25 to 30 days, yet companies should be prepared for extended hiring timelines as the demand continues to grow.

Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Norway in the last 3 months

The software job market in Norway has shown dynamic activity over the past 12 weeks, reflecting notable trends. In recent weeks, particularly week 32, there were 306 new software developer roles posted, marking a peak in job openings. However, this surge contrasts with the number of jobs closed, which reached a high of 393 in week 25, indicating that while demand is alive, turnover is significant. Comparing these figures to other European countries reveals a more fluctuating landscape, where new job openings in technology roles may not reach the consistency seen in Norway. For hiring managers, these trends in hiring Senior Software Developers in Norway suggest a competitive yet promising environment that necessitates strategic recruitment planning.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Norway:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	106
Uloba SA	Norway	Information Services	1991	105
Akademija Oxford	Serbia	Professional Training & Coaching	2008	84
TELUS Digital	Canada	Information Technology & Services	2005	37
Sopra Steria	France	Information Technology & Services	1968	31
Bane NOR	Norway	Transportation/trucking/railroad	2017	28
Equinor	Norway	Oil & Energy	1972	27
AutoStore™	Norway	Industrial Automation	1995	23
IKM Consultants AS	null	null	null	22
Tenth Revolution Group	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2006	22

Here are a few specialized software agencies you can trust:

Want to get personalized matches? Get started

Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Norway

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Norway

The software engineering job market in Norway presents a challenging landscape for hiring managers. With a ratio of talent pool to job openings significantly higher than countries like Sweden and Germany, where there are fewer available candidates per open position, the competition for skilled software engineers is pronounced. Compared to the Netherlands, which has a more balanced ratio, Norway's increased demand exacerbates the hiring challenges. For CTOs and engineering managers navigating this market, understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective recruitment strategies in Norway's tech sector.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Norway

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Norway

In Norway's software engineering job market, mid-senior level positions dominate with approximately 44% of all roles, closely followed by entry-level opportunities, which account for around 34%. Associate roles represent a smaller segment at about 3%. These statistics underscore the growing demand for experienced software engineers while highlighting a robust entry pathway for newcomers in the industry.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Norway

In Norway's software engineering job market, the distribution of employment types reveals a strong preference for full-time roles, which account for 93% of the available positions. Contract roles make up 7% of the market, while part-time positions represent 6%. This trend underscores the growing demand for stable, long-term employment among Software Engineers in Norway, highlighting the need for tailored recruitment strategies by CTOs and Engineering Managers.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Norway

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Software jobs in Norway reveals significant trends relevant for hiring managers in the tech sector. The most common hiring timeline falls between 25 and 30 days, with 517 and 699 instances, respectively. Notably, 280 roles are filled within 15 days, indicating a rapidly moving talent market. However, companies should prepare for longer timelines, as 149 roles extend to 45 days or beyond. Understanding these trends is crucial for CTOs and recruitment teams aiming to refine their strategies for attracting top-tier Software Engineer talent in Norway.

Expolore reports from other European Developer talent pools

Insights for hiring Software Engineers in Barcelona

The software engineers job market trends in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, indicate a competitive hiring landscape characterized by a talent pool ratio of 3.5 candidates per job opening.

View Report

Insights for hiring Software Engineers in Veldhoven

The software engineering job market in Netherlands Veldhoven is characterized by a total of 23 new software developer roles posted in the last 12 weeks, resulting in a net gain of only 2 positions after accounting for closures.

View Report

Insights for hiring Ruby on Rails Engineers in Italy

The Software Ruby on Rails Engineer job market in Italy exhibits a notable talent pool size with a significant number of job openings; recent trends indicate a fluctuating landscape with 11 new positions emerging, contrasted by a closure rate of 14 roles, revealing recruitment challenges.

View Report

View All Job Reports

Most popular cities in Norway to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Norway to hire Software Engineers

In Norway's software engineer job market, Oslo stands out as the dominant hub, accounting for 91% of the relevant job openings. Stavanger and Trondheim follow, contributing 2% and 2% respectively. This data emphasizes the concentration of opportunities in the capital city, making it a focal point for recruitment strategies targeting software engineers.

Most sought after technologies in Norway for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In analyzing the software job market in Norway, several technologies have emerged as highly sought after by employers. The most frequently requested technology is Java, with an impressive frequency of 10,493, closely followed by Python at 10,601. Other notable technologies include JavaScript, which ranks significantly in demand with 8,023 mentions, and React, with 6,591 occurrences. Further down the list, PHP and TypeScript are also notable contenders with frequencies of 6,098 and 5,239, respectively. This data, illustrated in the accompanying chart, underscores the shifting landscape of software development roles in Norway, providing valuable insights for recruitment strategies aimed at attracting top talent in these key areas.

Have a great project in mind?

We've identified 100+ world-class agencies, drop us a line if you'd like to work with them.