Introduction programme for new immigrants, 2010

During 2010, 11 800 persons participated in the introduction programme for new immigrants. This is an increase of 18 per cent from the previous year. Nearly 70 per cent of the participants came from Eritrea, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan or the Palestinian Territory.

The number of participants in 2010 is thereby the highest since the programme started in 2005.

Most participants from Eritrea

In 2010, the highest number of participants came from Eritrea, followed by Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian Territory. Eritrea had the highest increase compared with the previous year, with 70 per cent more participants.

Participation in the introduction programme is a right and it is mandatory for new immigrants aged 18 to 55. There are few participants in the higher age groups, and most participants are between 26 and 35 years old. The female share decreases with age.

Participants by age and sex. 2010
Age	All	Sex		Percentage

Age	All	Males	Females	Males	Females

Total	11 845	5 956	5 889	50	50
Under 25	2 998	1 615	1 383	54	46
26-35	5 110	2 466	2 644	48	52
36-45	2 703	1 307	1 396	48	52
46-55	878	467	411	53	47
56->	156	101	55	65	35

High share of participants from Bhutan, Eritrea, Burma and the Palestinian Territory

The number of participants as a share of the total number of immigrants in a certain year can be a useful measure for participation. Among those who immigrated in 2010, there were, however, many who didn’t manage to start before the end of the year. It is therefore better to look at those who immigrated in 2009 and their participation in the programme in 2010. For immigrants settled in Norway during 2009, the highest degree of participation in 2010 was among those from Bhutan, Eritrea, Burma, and the Palestinian Territory.

Most participants in Oslo

In 2010, as in the previous years, there were most participants in Oslo. Bergen, Trondheim, Kristiansand and Bodø followed next.

Many stay in the programme

70 per cent of the participants in 2010 were still registered in the programme at the end of the year. 18 per cent completed the full duration of the programme, while 5 per cent completed early to transfer to work or education.

Norwegian the most important course

The introduction programme consists of several types of schemes or courses, the most important being Norwegian with social studies. 91 per cent participated in this course during 2010. 34 per cent participated in language practice, which was the second most attended course. Language practice is a component in the language training where the participants spend part of the week in a workplace to get hands-on language practice.

Most men among those who had work besides the programme

13 per cent of the participants had some work besides participation in the programme. 17 per cent of the male and 10 per cent of the female participants were working besides the programme.

Persons receiving introduction benefit all 2010, who were also long-term recipients of social assistance same year, by sex
Sex	Number of participants in the introduction programme all year	Of which, long-term recipients of social assistance	Share long-term recipients of full year participants


All	3 998	657	16
Males	2 098	377	18
Females	1 900	280	15

Some received social assistance

Every participant in the introduction program receives a “salary”, or an introduction benefit. One of the important ideas behind this payment is to create an alternative to social assistance.

Among the 4 000 who received introduction benefit the entire year of 2010, nearly 700 persons, or 16 per cent, received social assistance in addition to the introduction benefit for at least six months. In 2009 this share was 17 per cent.

More participants in the introduction programme