Attitudes towards immigrants and immigration, 2016

Twelve per cent think it should be easier for refugees and asylum seekers to get a residence permit in Norway, while half the population think that access to permanent residence should be “the same as today”. One third think it should be more difficult to get a residence permit. These are some of the findings in the annual population survey of attitudes towards immigrants and immigration conducted by Statistics Norway between 4 July and 17 August 2016. This is the first survey after the surge of asylum seekers last autumn.

See the complete report Holdninger til innvandrere og innvandring 2016 here (in Norwegian only).

Fewer appreciate immigrants’ performance regarding work and culture

The share agreeing strongly or on the whole that “most immigrants make an important contribution to Norwegian working life” fell 7 percentage points since last year. Moreover, the belief that “most immigrants enrich the cultural life in Norway” decreased 5 percentage points since 2015. Two thirds still agree strongly or on the whole in each of these statements, while only 18 per cent disagree. 

The share agreeing strongly that all immigrants in Norway should have the same job opportunities as Norwegians declined 8 percentage points. That was also the case with the share agreeing fully that “labour immigration from non-Nordic countries makes a mainly positive contribution to the Norwegian economy’. The share agreeing on the whole in these statements however increased 7 and 5 percentage points respectively. 

There are now 86 per cent who think immigrants should have equal job opportunities and 63 per cent who believe that labour immigration from non-Nordic countries contributes positively to the Norwegian economy. 

More people consider immigrants as a source of insecurity

The survey moreover showed an increase of 6 percentage points in the share agreeing fully or on the whole that “most immigrants represent a source of insecurity in society”. Thirty-two per cent are of that opinion, while 54 per cent disagree. 

The share agreeing that “immigrants in Norway should endeavour to become as similar to Norwegians as possible” also increased 7 percentage points. Fifty-one per cent support this view, while 35 per cent disagree fully or on the whole. 

Fewer have contact with immigrants

The share claiming to have contact with immigrants fell 6 percentage points to 72 per cent in 2016. Fewer say they have contact with immigrants “at work” or “in close family relations”. Fewer also report daily contact. 

The attitudes towards immigrants vary according to background factors. Gender, educational level and contact are the most important background factors. Liberal attitudes are more common among women, those with a higher education and those with a wide range of contacts. Being male, poorly educated and lacking immigrant contacts shows the opposite trend. 

Political preferences are this time included in background factors. Established notions of the parties’ degree of immigrant-friendliness are reflected in the attitudes of their respective supporters.