Major differences between counties in results from qualification programmes

Qualification assistance aims at persons in danger of becoming long-term dependent on social assistance. Through guidance and assistance, the participants are to be prepared for employment. The participants normally have reduced working capability, and often have additional health and social problems

Nationally, one out of four participants was under 25 years. The county of Nord-Trøndelag had the highest proportion of young participants (40 per cent), while in the capital of Oslo the share of young participants was only 9 per cent. The age group of 50 years and over was most strongly represented in Oslo (17 per cent), and weakest in the county of Telemark (5 per cent).

More than one out of three participants had received state or municipal support (such as employment measures or medical treatment) one week before applying for KVP. With regard to their income before applying for KVP, 44 per cent had social assistance as their major source of income, while another 9 per cent received social assistance as a supplement to other income.

Employment measures and work placements are the most common activities

Regarding the content of the programme, the most common activity was employment measures, and the second most important was work placements. This pattern is especially clear for participants under 25 years of age and for those who had started their programme already in 2008. As for receiving other public benefits during the programme period, 35 per cent received social assistance (in addition to the qualification benefits), while 39 per cent received state and 5 per cent municipal housing payment support.

Only 3 per cent of the KVP participants in 2009 interrupted their programme through absence as of 31 December. Of those who completed the programme or left the programme in agreement with the employment authorities, 18 per cent went to ordinary employment, 39 per cent started education, while 14 per cent had an unresolved situation. However, only 14 per cent of those who completed KVP were no longer dependent on public support after finishing the programme.

About the publication

A total of 423 municipalities reported data on KVP to the local employment authorities for 2009, while 356 of these reported data to Statistics Norway. In addition to these (generally minor) municipalities, we have excluded another 23 municipalities from the data due to extensive errors. In the end, our data are based on 7 987 participants out of the approximately 10 600 reported to the local employment authorities.

Data are published on county level and according to size of municipality.

Tables:

• Table 1 Number of cases on qualification benefits, by age, county and size of municipality. 2009
• Table 2 Did the participant during the last two months before application receive any of the following benefits? Per cent
• Table 3 Did the participant take part in any state or municipal programme one week before application for qualification benefits? Per cent
• Table 4 Status of the qualification programme as of 31 December. Per cent
• Table 5 By completed programme or programme terminated as agreed - what was the participant's labour force status immediately after ended programme? Per cent
• Table 6 By completed programme or programme terminated as agreed - what was the participant's assistance status immediately after ended programme? Per cent
• Table 7 Did the participant during the qualification programme also receive social assistance, municipal housing support or state housing support? Per cent
• Table 8 Which measures/ activities/ support did the participant's program consist of during 2009? Per cent