Guide to finding jobs in Luxembourg

With the highest minimum wage in the world and a reputation for its strong work-life balance, Luxembourg can be an ideal location for expats looking to work abroad. Nearly 50% of the country’s workforce is international, and cross-border workers can commute from neighboring Belgium, France, or Germany. Plus, if you’re looking for a job in the financial sector, Luxembourg might just be the place for you.

Here’s what you need to know:

The job market in Luxembourg

In terms of Luxembourg’s job market, the country’s unemployment rate has remained relatively stable in recent years, sitting at 5.8% as of November 2024.

The workforce in Luxembourg is made up of a combination of nationals, cross-border commuters, and foreign workers. Luxembourg’s job market is multicultural and multilingual; in fact, working knowledge of one of the three official languages (Luxembourgish, French, or German) is essential for many jobs.

At the heart of Luxembourg’s economy is its financial sector. Luxembourg is a leading center for investment funds and private banking in Europe, with around 120 international banks operating in the small country. In 2021, 14% of Luxembourg’s workforce worked in finance, and the sector contributed 25% of the country’s total wealth.

What jobs are in demand in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg’s main industries include:

• Banking and financial services
• Steel manufacturing
• Information and communication technology (ICT)
• Logistics and transportation
• Tourism
• Insurance and reinsurance

Skills shortages have been reported in a number of sectors including:

• Financial services
• Information technology
• Engineering
• Healthcare
• Skilled trades (e.g., electricians, plumbers)

The biggest Luxembourgish companies are:

• ArcelorMittal
• Cargolux
• Post Luxembourg
• SES S.A.
• RTL Group

In addition to these, multinational companies with a strong presence in Luxembourg include Amazon, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), Deloitte, and KPMG.

Job vacancies for foreigners in Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the most attractive destinations for expats, boasting a truly international workforce. Foreign workers make up around 47% of Luxembourg’s workforce, a figure that has steadily grown in recent years due to the country’s robust economy and strategic location in Europe.

Luxembourg doesn’t offer specific incentives like job seeker visas or tax rulings for expats akin to the Netherlands’ 30% ruling. However, it does have initiatives to help foreigners integrate, such as language support programs and the Welcome and Integration Contract (CAI), which provides orientation and access to resources.

Job opportunities are abundant, especially for highly skilled expats and multilingual professionals, as Luxembourg’s business landscape thrives on international cooperation. Foreigners are particularly valued for their language skills, with demand spanning financial services, IT, law, and European institutions.

The finance sector remains dominant, employing thousands of expats, while industries like logistics, healthcare, and engineering also actively recruit international talent. Multilingualism is key, as Luxembourgish, French, German, and English are widely used across workplaces.

While foreigners earn competitive salaries, there is some discrepancy in median earnings. According to reports, non-nationals often earn less than Luxembourgish citizens, though this gap is smaller for highly skilled roles. Temporary or fixed-term contracts are also more common among foreign workers, reflecting a degree of employment precariousness.

Luxembourg’s cosmopolitan environment, competitive salaries, and strong demand for international expertise make it an attractive destination for expats, particularly those with specialized skills and linguistic flexibility. With nearly 60% of registered companies employing at least one foreign worker, the country continues to rely on its diverse workforce to sustain economic growth.

How to find jobs in Luxembourg

Expatica jobs in Luxembourg

If you’re moving to Luxembourg, you can find a range of English-speaking as well as multi-language jobs at Expatica jobs.

EURES

If you’re from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you can look for a job in Luxembourg through EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal, which is maintained by the European Commission. As well as looking for work, you can upload your CV and get advice on working in Luxembourg.

Public job sites

The National Employment Agency (Agence pour le développement de l’emploi, ADEM) helps people find jobs across the country. By registering as a job seeker, you can view and apply for vacancies on Portal de l’emploi job board. The Luxembourg government portal also has information about ADEM as well as employment advice on its website.

Job websites in Luxembourg

There are also various general job websites, including the following:

• Indeed
• jobs.lu
• Monster
• Moovijob
• Option Carriere

English-speaking jobs

If you’re in search of an English-speaking job in Luxembourg, there are a few dedicated sites that you can check to find the latest job openings:

• Jobs In Luxembourg
• Multilingual Vacancies

It’s also worth keeping an eye on English-language newspapers, like the Luxembourg Times, which run job adverts in their classifieds section.

Recruitment agencies

Details of the main Luxembourg recruitment agencies can be found on the website of the Luxembourg Union of Temporary Employment Agencies (Union Luxembourgeoise des Entreprises de Travail Intérimaire) as well as in online Yellow Pages or Editus business directory.

You can also check out Expatica’s recruitment agency listings in our directory.

Teaching English in Luxembourg

To teach English in a school in Luxembourg, you’ll generally need to have a BA degree and a TEFL certification. Most teaching contracts begin in September and end in July, aligning with the academic year. Some teachers also choose to teach at English language camps in the summer or take on private lessons, which are popular due to Luxembourg’s multilingual environment.

The main cities for teaching jobs are Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette. There are only about 20 English language schools across the country, including private institutions and language centers.

It’s worth noting that the low demand for English teachers in Luxembourg means the accompanying salary is usually not enough to keep up with the country’s very high cost of living.

Embassies and foreign organizations

Check out opportunities at the embassies and consulates in Luxembourg City. Most will expect a high standard of both spoken and written English.

The British Embassy in Luxembourg advertises jobs from time to time, so does the US Embassy.

Newspapers

The following newspapers are worth checking out to keep an eye on vacancies across Luxembourg:

• La Voix du Nord
• Luxweb Today

Make the first move: speculative applications

Speculative applications are an acceptable way in Luxembourg to contact large companies, particularly by young graduates. You should not hesitate to apply in this way even if there are no job vacancies, as it might get you listed in a database of potential candidates if the company has one.

Industry bodies for advice on speculative applications include:

• Crafts and manual trades: Fédération Des Artisans (FDA)
• Finance: Luxembourg Bankers’ Association (ABBL)
• Hotels and restaurants: Horesca
• Industry and business services: FEDIL
• Transport and services sectors: Luxembourg Confederation

Self-employment and freelancing in Luxembourg

If you’re eligible to work in Luxembourg, you can also consider starting your own business or working self-employed as a freelancer. However, you will need to apply for a business permit and will have to file separate business tax returns if you set up a limited company that exists as a separate legal entity.

Traineeships, internships, and volunteering in Luxembourg

Within the EU, traineeships for university graduates are offered via the European Commission Traineeships Office (Bureau de Stages). Internships or summer placements are arranged by AIESEC (for students and recent graduates in the UK), IAESTE (for students in science, engineering, and applied arts), Europlacement, Go Abroad, and Graduateland.

Volunteers aged 17–30 years can find programs via the European Voluntary Service (EVS), where you work abroad for up to 12 months in exchange for board, food, insurance, as well as a small allowance. You can also check for volunteering opportunities with organizations such as Concordia and Anywork Anywhere.

How do you apply for a job in Luxembourg?

Once you’ve found a suitable job, you’ll need to work on producing a good application to maximize your chances of landing the role. You will typically have to complete a short application form, send a CV, and also provide a cover letter or personal statement outlining your suitability for the role.

Unless otherwise stated, applications and covering letters should be in the language used in the advertisement. Letters sent with speculative applications should be written in French, or in English if applying to a large multinational. It’s also worth trying out an online resume builder such as Resume.io to streamline the process.

Job interviews are usually quite formal in Luxembourg. Dress in professionally and be sure to do your research ahead of the interview to prepare some good questions to ask. Interviews usually last between 30–60 minutes and may involve tests or tasks, depending on the role.

If you do well enough to land the job, you will be contacted by phone, letter or email to be formally offered the role and given a start date. The company will contact your references. Usually, you have to provide 2–3 of these.

What are the requirements to find work in Luxembourg?

1. Do you need a Luxembourgish work visa?

If you’re a European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) citizen moving to Luxembourg, you have the right to freely work and reside in the country. In most cases, your new employer will deal with legal formalities, such as tax administration and social security registration. You’ll also enjoy the same benefits as nationals concerning sickness and maternity leave.

If you’re from outside of the EU, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit before entering the country if you plan to stay longer than three months. You need to request a permit based on your individual circumstances, for example, work, self-employment, study, research, or joining a family member.

2. What are the language requirements to work in Luxembourg?

Due to Luxembourg’s location in the center of Europe and its three official languages, a command of several languages is important when applying to many jobs in Luxembourg.

Depending on the job, knowledge of French, English, German, and Luxembourgish will either be essential or at least appreciated. Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese can also be a bonus.

To increase your chances of securing a job, it is advisable to be proficient in at least two languages, at least one of which should be an official language of the country (Luxembourgish, French, or German).

If you want to improve your language skills, there are also many language schools in Luxembourg.

3. Can you transfer your qualifications to work in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg is part of the Bologna Process and is thus part of the European Higher Education Area, which means that higher education qualifications from other member countries are valid in there.

If you’re from a non-member country, you’ll need to contact the National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC) in Luxembourg to find out about getting your qualifications recognized.

Some professions in Luxembourg are regulated, in other words you have to have a minimum level of qualifications to practice them. You can find a list of regulated professions on the government website.

You can find out whether your profession is regulated (needs specific qualifications for you to be able to practice it) in Luxembourg by checking on the European Commission’s database.  

4. You will need a tax and social security number

All residents and workers in Luxembourg receive a 13-digit national identification number which is used for Luxembourgish taxes and social security purposes.

You will receive your national identification number with your social security card, which is sent when you enroll in social security or health insurance in Luxembourg. However, with most jobs in Luxembourg, your employer will sort this out for you.

Financial support while looking for a job in Luxembourg

There is a contribution-based social security system in Luxembourg, which means that you can claim unemployment allowance while looking for work as long as you’ve contributed through previous employment. You will need to have worked at least 16 hours a week. The amount you can claim depends on how long you’ve worked and how much you’ve paid in.

Under certain conditions, EU residents who move to Luxembourg can use contributions made in their home countries to put towards their unemployment benefit entitlements. You can find details on how to apply on the ADEM Portail de l’emploi website.

ADEM also has details of a range of training opportunities that jobseekers can take advantage of to improve their skills while looking for work in Luxembourg.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you can contact [different administration or organization] to see if you are entitled to any support.

Starting your job in Luxembourg: important questions

Job probation periods in Luxembourg must be a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of 12 months. In reality, however, they are usually between one and three months. During this time, the notice period for terminating your contract may be shorter.

Once you start your job in Luxembourg, your employer should enroll you for health insurance and social security. This covers you for public healthcare in Luxembourg, state Luxembourgish pensions, workplace insurance, and a range of other benefits.

Many employers in Luxembourg also offer various company benefits such as company pension, travel insurance, investment opportunities and more.

Useful resources

• Portal de l’emploi – government employment website
• Luxembourg government website – contains information about employment
• EURES – EU job portal