Former participants in the Introduction programme 2011-2015

The Introduction programme for new immigrants is an integration policy initiative that all Norwegian municipalities are obliged to offer newly arrived refugees according to the Introduction Act (Act no. 80 of 4 July 2003). Refugees who has been resident in a municipality for less than two years since decision about attending the programme was made are considered as newly arrivals. The main activities in the programme are Norwegian language training and social studies, along with work experience and vocational guidance. The Introduction programme for is an important tool for municipalities in their work to integrate newly arrived refugees. Since 2010, the government’s target has been for a minimum of 70 per cent of all previous participants of the programme to be employed or in education one year after the end of the programme.

This report describes the activities of those who completed out of the Introduction programme in the years 2011–2015. We describe their participation in employment and further education, as well as their income situation one year after completing or dropping out of the Introduction programme, and then annually until 2016.

In 2016, 61 per cent of those who completed or dropped out of the programme in 2015 were employed or in education. This share is 58 per cent in 2015 for those who left the Introduction programme in 2014. For all years dating back to 2011, the share in work or education one year after completing the programme is between 58-63 per cent. The share for men in employment or education slightly increases from the first to the second year after the end of the Introduction programme, and then flattens out or goes down. However, for women who left the Introduction programme in this period increases the share in work or education in all years.

The proportion of women in employment and education is significantly lower than for men. Among women who completed or dropped out of the programme in both 2014 and 2015, 49 per cent were employed or in education one year later. However, the corresponding figures for men in the same years were 66 and 61 per cent.

Income from work gives an indication of attachment to the labour market and shows whether households manage to support themselves. Income from work increases for all groups in the years after the end of the Introduction programme. There is some decrease in social support such as social assistance, housing benefit and qualification benefits in the years after the end of the programme.