Registered unemployed among immigrants (discontinued in Statistics Norway), Q4 2002

In percentage points the unemployment among immigrants from Africa increased the most, with 2.4.

This group also had the highest unemployment rate, 16 per cent, while immigrants from Asia and Eastern Europe had 11.5 and 9.8 per cent respectively. The rate for immigrants from the Nordic countries was as usual only a few decimals higher than for the entire population, 3.7 per cent.

The immigrants from the other western countries had some higher unemployment rate, 4.3 per cent this quarter.

17 per cent of the unemployed are immigrants

13 107 immigrants were registered as unemployed at the end of November 2002. These persons represent 17 per cent of the total group of 77 706 registered unemployed at that point of time. Among the 13 107 unemployed immigrants 10 819 had a non-western background, a proportion of 83 per cent. Hence unemployment among immigrants is in particular a non-western phenomenon.

Highest percentage increase among western immigrants

Despite a much lower level in registered unemployment, the immigrants from the Nordic and the other western countries had some higher percentage growth in the absolute numbers of unemployed from November 2001 to November 2002, with 30 per cent (in both groups). Immigrants from Africa and South- and Central-America had a growth at 28 and 27 per cent respectively. In the whole population the growth among registered unemployed was 21 per cent, while immigrants in total had a growth at 25 per cent.

More men registered unemployed

Males, in the whole population as well as among immigrants, had a higher increase in the absolute numbers of registered unemployed. From November 2001 to November 2002 the increase was 23 per cent and 26 per cent respectively, while the corresponding growth among women in total was 18 per cent and 23 per cent among female immigrants. In the entire population men had an unemployment rate of 3.6 per cent, while the women had a rate of 2.9 per cent. The rates among immigrants were 9.6 and 7.5 per cent respectively.

Some growth in labour market schemes

The decrease in the number of persons covered by ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) seems to turn. At the national level there has been an increase from 11 830 participants in November 2001 to 14 383 in November 2002. Among immigrants this number increased from 4 014 to 4 402 participants during this period. These 4 402 immigrant-participants accounted for 31 per cent of all persons covered by such schemes and included mostly non-westerners. In relation to the whole immigrant population 16-74 years, immigrants had a percentage of participants of 1.8, while the percentage for the whole population was 0.4. These rates were stable from November 2001 to November 2002.

Tables:

• Table 1 Registered unemployed aged 16-74 years, by region of birth and sex. In absolute numbers and per cent of the labour force. By the end of August 2001, November 2001, August 2002 and November 2002
• Table 2 Participants in ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes), by region of birth and sex. In absolute numbers and per cent of persons aged 16-74 years. By the end of August 2001, November 2001, August 2002 and November 2002
• Table 3 Registered unemployed and participants in ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes), by region of birth and time of residence in Norway. In per cent of persons in total aged 16-74 years. By the end of November 2001 and 2002
• Table 4 Registered unemployed, by region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons in total 16-74 years. By the end of November 2001
• Table 5 Registered unemployed, by region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons in total 16-74 years. By the end of November 2002
• Table 6 Registered participants in ordinary labour market schemes, by region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons in total 16-74 years. By the end of November 2002