Registered unemployed among immigrants (discontinued in Statistics Norway), Q1 2006

In these statistics, immigrants are defined as first-generation immigrants, i.e. people born abroad by foreign-born parents. They must also be registered as settled in Norway for at least six months. The figures are based on the Directorate of Labour's register of job seekers and are calculated as a fraction of the labour force. 14 384 immigrants were registered unemployed, which were 2 200 fewer than last year.

Measured in percentage points the decline in the unemployment rate has been stronger among immigrants than among the rest of the population. The relative decline was, however, strongest among the non-immigrants, since the level of unemployment was much lower. Within the immigrant groups the non-western had the strongest decline in percentage points, slight above two percentage points in each group. But the relative decline was, however, stronger within the western groups.

No equalization to non-immigrants

In the first quarter of 2006 immigrants had an unemployment rate which was three times as high as the rate within the non-immigrant population. This difference has been stable for a long period. As some non-western groups are concerned, the difference is even greater. Also this quarter it was the immigrants from Africa that had the highest unemployment rate, at 16.5 per cent. This was six times higher than the non-immigrant population. Immigrants from Asia had the second highest rate at 10.8 per cent registered unemployed, while they from Eastern Europe (without EU countries) had 10.3 per cent and from South and Central America 8.8 per cent. The lowest rates were as usual recorded among immigrants from The Nordic countries and the other western European countries slightly above 3 per cent in each group. Close to them we find the immigrants from the new EU countries in the East and from North-America and Oceania at 4.4 per cent in each group.

These differences seem to occur as a stable pattern in the Norwegian labour market. The high unemployment rate among African immigrants must be seen in connection with the relative high proportion of newly arrived immigrants in this group, especially refugees from Somalia.

Strongest fall among men

Male immigrants experienced the strongest fall in unemployment in the period, at 2.3 percentage points, while the decline in unemployment among immigrant women was 1.2 percentage points. This development has caused some equalization between immigrant men and women. In the first quarter 2006 the rates were 8.3 and 8.1 per cent respectively. Traditionally we find a much higher registered unemployment rate among immigrant men than among women. In the rest of the population, the rates were, 2.7 among men and 2.5 per cent among women. Also within this population men had some stronger decline than women (0.9 versus 0.5 percentage points).

Norwegian born by foreign-born parents

Only 516 people among the Norwegian born by foreign-born parents were registered as unemployed. These people constituted 5.7 per cent which was two percentage points lower than February 2005. Hence the unemployment level within this group lies halfway between the first generation immigrants and the non-immigrant population.

Highest unemployment for immigrants with four to seven years of residence

The highest unemployment rate was recorded among immigrants with four to seven years of residence. This disparity is most likely due to the fact that newly arrived non-western immigrants, mostly refugees, go through language and job training before they enter the labour force as registered job seekers. For immigrants with seven years of residence or more, the unemployment rate is much lower, but we do not, however, see any equalization between the groups. African immigrants had also in this group the highest unemployment rate at 7.9 per cent while the other non-western groups lay between 5 and 6 per cent and the western immigrants slightly above 2 per cent (Calculated as a fraction of the population 16 - 74 years. According to this calculation, the immigrants in total had an unemployment rate at 5.1 per cent and the non-immigrants, 1.9 per cent).

Labour market schemes

In February 2006 the number of immigrants participating on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) was 3 926 people, which was about 1 100 participants fewer compared to February

2005, a reduction of 22 per cent. Participants who not were immigrants constituted 9 003 people.

In this group the decline was 1 130 participants or 9 per cent.

Immigrants accounted for 30 per cent of the total group of participants on such schemes last quarter and included mainly non-westerners. As a percentage of the immigrant population, the participation was 1.4 per cent in February 2006. In the remaining population the participant rate was 0.3 per cent.

Immigrants from Africa had the highest participant rate at 2.7 per cent. Immigrants from Eastern Europe (outside EU) had a participation rate at 2.0 per cent, from Asia 1.8 and from South- and Central-America 1.3 per cent.

Tables:

• Table 1 Registered unemployed by immigrant background, region of birth and sex. In absolute figures and in per cent of the labour force. By the end of February 2005 and 2006
• Table 2 Participants on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) by immigrant background, region of birth and sex. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 16 to 74 years. By the end of February 2005 and 2006
• Table 3 Registered unemployed and participants in ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) , by region of birth and time of residence in Norway. By the end of February 2005 and 2006. In per cent of persons in total aged 16 - 74 years
• Table 4 Registered unemployed by immigrant background, region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 16 to 74 years in each group. By the end of February 2005 and 2006
• Table 5 Participants on ordinary labour market schemes (job-programmes) by immigrant background, region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 16 to 74 years in each group. By the end of February 2005 and 2006
• Table 6 Registered unemployed by sex, immigrant background, region of birth and age. Absolute numbers and in per cent of the labour force. By the end of February 2005 and 2006