Registered unemployed among immigrants (discontinued in Statistics Norway), Q2 2007

10 003 immigrants were registered unemployed, which were 3 100 fewer than the year before. The unemployment rate within this group was in the second quarter at the lowest level ever recorded since these statistics were established in 1990. In total we find 42 357 people registered unemployed at the end of May this year. Immigrants constituted 24 per cent of this group.

Immigrants are influenced by the labour market cycles

The relative decrease was almost the same also within all groups. Therefore we do not see any equalization between immigrants and the majority population. The unemployment rate of the immigrant group was still three times as high as the rate within the majority population. This difference has been stable for a long time and is to some degree due to the relative large number of newcomers on the labour market among the immigrants. Thus, the portion of employed in the labour force will always be some lower within this group compared to the majority population. Kunne det være en idé å utdype/gjenta tallene (.f.eks i absolutte tall) fra den andre setningen i ingressen her, akkurat som i den norske?

Still highest rate among Africans

Within the four non-western groups, the decline in the unemployment rate was about three percentage points in each group. Also this quarter, it was the immigrants from Africa who had the highest unemployment rate, at 11.2 per cent. Immigrants from Asia had the second highest rate at 7.1 per cent registered unemployed, while they from Eastern Europe (outside the EU countries) had 5.8 per cent and the group from South and Central America 5.0 per cent. The lowest rates were as usual recorded among immigrants from the western regions, at about 2.0 cent. Also the immigrants from the new EU countries in the East had an unemployment rate at this level.

Slightly higher rates among women

In the second quarter 2007, the rates were 4.8 per cent among male immigrants and 5.4 among the females. In the rest of the population, the rates were 1.4 and 1.5 per cent respectively. This difference is contrary to the traditional gender difference as registered unemployment is concerned. Traditionally we find a higher rate among men than women. This unusual pattern is due to a relative stronger decrease in registered unemployment within male dominated industries, as for instance manufacturing, construction and engineering.

Few descendants are registered unemployed

Only 304 people among the Norwegian born by foreign-born parents (descendants) were registered as unemployed in May 2007. These people constituted 2.8 per cent which was 1.7 percentage point lower than in May last year. Hence the unemployment level within this group lies halfway between the first generation immigrants and the non-immigrant population, but descendants constitute a rather marginal group as the registered unemployment is concerned.

40 per cent on job-programmes are immigrants

Despite a declining unemployment rate, we find a slight increase in the number of people participating on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) among immigrants. From May 2006 to May 2007, this number increased from 3 699 to 4 520. In the majority population, the number of participants in labour market schemes fell from 8 121 to 7 464. Immigrants constituted nearly 38 per cent of the total group of participators.

Since some of the labour markets schemes especially are offered refugees, the size of the immigrant group may as well be influenced by the amount and structure of immigration as the labour market cycles. As a percentage of the immigrant population, the participation was 1.4 per cent in May 2007 which was almost unchanged compared to the year before. In the remaining population, the participant rate was only 0.2 per cent. Immigrants from Africa had the highest participant rate at 3.2 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 May 2006 and 2007
• 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 May 2006 and 2007
• Table 3 Registered unemployed by region of birth and time of residence in Norway. By the end of May 2006 and 2007. Absolute figures and 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 May 2006 and 2007
• 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 May 2006 and 2007
• 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 May 2006 and 2007