Social services staff (discontinued), 1999

At the end of 1999, 4 494 full-time positions were registered in social services. This was an increase of 134 positions from 1998. Viewed as a proportion of the population, the national average rose from 1.2 positions per 1 000 adults (age 18 and up) in 1998, to 1.3 in 1999.

More social workers and child welfare officers

At the end of last year, a total increase of 52 full-time equivalents was registered among social workers in social services compared with the year before, from 1 836 in 1998 to 1 888 in 1999. The percentage of employees with a degree in social work in 1999 was 44 per cent, the same as the year before. In 1992 the corresponding number was 34 per cent, so the percentage of employees with a degree in social work has increased steadily throughout the 1990s.

Parallel with the increase of social workers in social services, the number of child welfare officers increased by 27 compared with the year before. In 1999, 177 child welfare officers were employed by social services. The number of professional staff (social workers and child welfare officers) increased by 79 from 1998 to 1999.

Fewer employees with clerical training

The number of employees with other college or university training also rose in 1999, by 36. On the other hand, the number of employees with clerical or business training fell by a total of 15 full-time equivalents last year. Employees with other training or unskilled workers declined by 27 last year compared with the year before.

The number of positions available in social services has increased in recent years. In 1999 there were 154 positions available compared with 147 in 1998 and 118 in 1997. The extent of temporary positions increased last year by 28 full-time equivalents, to 157 full-time equivalents in 1999 compared with 129 the year before.

Big differences between counties

Large differences still exist between counties with respect to the ratio of employees in social services. Oslo has the best coverage, with 2.1 full-time equivalents per 1 000 adults. There is a large gap to the next county, Finnmark, with 1.5 and Østfold, with 1.4 employees per 1 000 population. Telemark and Møre og Romsdal have the lowest staffing, with 0.9 full-time equivalents per 1 000 adults.

Tables:

• Table 1 Man-years in social administration, by county. 31 December 1999
• Table 2 Man-years in social administration, by county. 31 December 1999