Registered unemployed among immigrants (discontinued in Statistics Norway), Q4 2008

Only males experienced growth in the unemployment rate, by one percentage point. There was a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points among female immigrants. This tendency is due to the increased unemployment within male dominated industries, such as construction and manufacturing. The unemployment rate for male and female immigrants was 5.0 and 4.5 per cent respectively in the 4th quarter of 2008.

In the rest of the population, the unemployment rate was 1.7 and 1.3 per cent for men and women respectively. Also within this majority group, only the men had growth in the unemployment rate, at 0.4 percentage points. Among women this rate was unchanged.

A total of 11 728 immigrants were registered unemployed in the fourth quarter of 2008. There was a growth of 2 532 unemployed immigrants from the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Among those, 1 131 people came from the EU countries in Eastern Europe. When those from the Nordic countries and the rest of Western Europe are added, the increase within these three groups constitutes a total of 1 522 unemployed, or 60 per cent of the growth within the immigrant group as a whole. These were mainly men.

Largest increase among those from EU countries in the east

Immigrants from EU countries in Eastern Europe had the largest growth in unemployment rate since the fourth quarter of 2007, of 2.1 percentage points. They were followed by the Nordic and the other Western European immigrants, who had growth of 0.5 and 0.4 percentage points respectively.

Despite this increase, these three groups are still among those with the lowest unemployment rates. Their rates in the 4th quarter of 2008 were as follows: 2.1 per cent (Nordic countries), 2.2 per cent (Western Europe other) and 3.9 per cent (EU countries in Eastern Europe).

Immigrants from Africa and Asia had a slightly smaller growth, i.e. 0.3 percentage points in each group. However these two groups still had the highest unemployment rates, at 10.3 and 6.2 per cent respectively. Immigrants from Eastern Europe (except the EU countries) and South and Central America are in an intermediate position as unemployment rates are concerned, at 5.4 and 4.5 per cent respectively. These two groups had only a marginal change. These differences among the world region based groups have been stable for a long time.

Few Norwegian-born to immigrant parents

Only 385 Norwegian-born to immigrant parents (previously referred to as “descendants”) were registered unemployed in November 2008. The majority within this group are aged 15-29 years, and the unemployment rate among them was 3.0 per cent, which was only a few decimal points above the level of the corresponding age group in the population as a whole.

Participants on labour market schemes

The number of immigrants on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) increased from 4 797 in November 2007 to 5 334 in November 2008, i.e. 537 more participants. In total, 13 128 people participated in labour market schemes, and there was an increase of 828 participants in the majority population.

As a percentage of the immigrant population aged 15-74 years, the participation rate was 1.4 per cent. In the rest of the population, the participation rate was 0.2 per cent. There was no change in these rates, either among immigrants or the rest of the population. Immigrants from Africa had the highest participation rate at 3.5 per cent in November 2008.

More than 70 per cent of all participants who are immigrants came from Asia or Africa. These two groups have the highest shares of newly-established refugees in Norway.

Tables:

• Table 1 Registered unemployed, by immigrant background, region of birth and sex. By the end of November 2007 and 2008. In absolute figures and in per cent of the labour force
• Table 2 Participants on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes), by immigrant background, region of birth and sex. By the end of November 2007 and 2008. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 15 to 74 years
• Table 3 Registered unemployed, by region of birth and time of residence in Norway. By the end of November 2007 and 2008. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons in total aged 15-74 years
• Table 4 Registered unemployed, by immigrant background, region of birth and county of residence. By the end of November 2007 and 2008. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 15 to 74 years in each group
• Table 5 Participants on ordinary labour market schemes (job-programmes), by immigrant background, region of birth and county of residence. By the end of November 2007 and 2008. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 16 to 74 years in each group
• Table 6 Registered unemployed, by sex, immigrant background, region of birth and age. By the end of November 2007 and 2008. Absolute numbers and in per cent of the labour force