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Weekly Bulletin issue no. 47, 1997

Living conditions survey on working environment, 1996:

Four in 10 feel pressure at work

Nearly four in 10 experienced considerable pressure on the job last year in Norway. This is an increase compared to 1989, when only one-third experienced the same.
Compared to previous years a growing number of workers experience high work intensity. In 1996, 44 per cent of employees said that they had so much to do or that they didn’t have time to talk or think about anything but work during working hours. In 1993 the percentage was 37 per cent and in 1989 32 per cent. In the course of seven years there has been an increase among both men and women.

Men catching up to women

The experience of high work intensity last year was nearly equally widespread among both sexes. From 1993 to 1996 the increase has, however, been the greatest among male employees, from 33 to 43 per cent, while the increase for female employees was more moderate, from 42 to 44 per cent.

Deadlines

Since 1989 a growing number of employees are experiencing that their work tempo is completely governed by deadlines and set routines. The total percentage who felt controlled by deadlines and routines has increased 16 per cent over the past seven years, from 58 per cent in 1989, to 67 per cent in 1993, and now, most recently, to 74 per cent in 1996. Both male and female employees feel that the pace of work is controlled by deadlines and routines. Last year, 74 per cent of the men and 73 per cent of the women said that this was the case.

Several have external contact

At the same time as more employees are experiencing high work intensity and feel that the pace of work is controlled by routines, the survey shows an increase in the percentage of workers who have contact with outsiders like customers, clients, school pupils and others. From 1989 to 1996 the percentage has increased from 52 to 64 per cent. The percentage among women last year was at its highest, with 71 per cent, compared to the men’s percentage of 57 per cent.

New Statistics

Living conditions survey on working environment, 1996.
More information: Øyvind Andresen, tel. +47 21 09 48 74, e-mail: oya@ssb.no, or Arne S. Andersen, tel. +47 21 09 46 71, e-mail: asa@ssb.no.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 47, 1997