Social services staff (discontinued), 2000

At the end of 2000, 4 867 full-time positions were registered in social services. This is an increase of 373 positions from 1999. Viewed as a proportion of the population, the national average rose from 1.3 positions per 1000 adults (age 18 and up) in 1999, to 1.4 in 2000.

More social workers and child welfare officers

At the end of last year, there was a total increase of 92 man-labor years registered among social workers in social service compared with the year before, from 1888 man-labor years for social workers in 1999 to 1980 man-labor years for social workers this year. The percentage of employees with a degree in social work was 39 per cent in 2000. For the first time since 1992 there is possible to notice a reduction in the number of social workers in the social services. The reduction from 1999 is 5 per cent.

As a parallel with the increase of social workers in social services, the number of child welfare officers increased by 61 compared with the year before. The number of professional staff (social workers, child welfare officers and nurses for the mentally subnormal) was 2345. This indicates an increase from the year before.

Fewer employees with clerical training

The number of employees with other college or university training decreased compared whit last year. The main reason for this decrease was that nurses for the mentally subnormal were separated as an own separate group this year. For the employees with clerical or business training one can notice a decrease from 1999 whit 77 man-labor years. Employees with other training or unskilled workers one can notice a increase by 227 full-time equivalents compared with 1999.

The number of positions available in social services has increased in recent years. In 2000 there were 186 positions available compared with 154 in 1999, and 147 in 1998.

Big differences between counties

In year 2000, 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 1000 adults (18 an up). Right behind we find Vest-Agder with 1.9 full-time equivalents per 1000 adults. There is a large gap to the county Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane how has the lowest staffing, with 1.1 full-time equivalents per 1000 adults.

Tables:

• Table 1 Man-years in social services, by county, per 31 December 2000
• Table 2 Man-years in social services, by county, per 31 December 2000