Employee statistics by municipality of work, 1999

The biggest decline took place in Finnmark and Nordland, with 1.5 and 0.6 per cent respectively.

Fewer employees in manufacturing

The number of employees in manufacturing declined in all counties from 1998 to 1999. For the country as a whole the largest decline occured in the transport equipment industry and basic metal and machinery industries. The decline in the transport equipment industry is due to some extent to the transfer of transport-related auxiliary activities from manufacturing to transport industries.

The largest percentage decline in the number of employees in manufacturing occurred in Finnmark and Sogn og Fjordane with 11.1 and 7.8 per cent respectively, while Akershus had the smallest decline. The decline for the country as a whole was 4.0 per cent.

In construction the overall number of employees remained stable from 1998 to 1999 although large differences were evident to some extent in the individual counties. The largest increase was in Rogaland, Hordaland and Buskerud, all of which saw an increase of more than 3.0 per cent in the number of employees. At the same time, Møre og Romsdal and Nordland reported the largest declines, with 3.9 and 3.2 per cent respectively.

Slight increase in retail trade, hotels and restaurants

Employment in the wholesale and retail trade and hotel and restaurant sector increased by 0.7 per cent from 1998 to 1999. The biggest increase took place in retail trade. Rogaland, Sør-Trøndelag and Østfold had the largest percentage increase, with 3.2, 2.9 and 2.5 per cent respectively, while Finnmark had the biggest decline, with 2.3 per cent.

Increase in transport and communications

The transport and communications sector increased its number of employees by 0.7 per cent from 1998 to 1999. Air transport had the largest increase in the number of employees, with most of the increase occurring in Akershus.

The post and telecommunications sector saw a decline in the number of employees during the same period. This is due somewhat to the continued restructuring of enterprises, which has led to the entrance of some companies into new areas of business.

Continued large increase in real estate and business activities

For the entire country, 1998 to 1999 saw a 5.8 per cent increase in the number of employees in real estate and business activities. All counties, with the exception of Rogaland, had an increase in this industry. Oslo gained the most new employees, while the percentage increase was the largest in Aust-Agder and Hedmark, 18.2 and 13.9 per cent respectively. The increase occurred mainly in computer and related activities and other business activities. The increase in business activities is due in part to spin-offs of activities from large enterprises and part of the decline in other industries should be viewed accordingly.

Employment in public administration, education and health rose by 1.8 per cent overall from 1998 to 1999. All counties saw an increase, and Vestfold, Nord-Trøndelag and Østfold had the largest percentage increase, with 5.9, 3.6 and 3.5 per cent respectively.