Labour force survey, Q4 2009

Long-term unemployed is defined as employees who have been without work for more than 26 weeks. Of a total of 75 000 unemployed in the 4th quarter of 2009, 23 000 were long-term unemployed persons. The share of long-term unemployed rose from 19 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2008, to 31 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2009.

According to the labour force survey (LFS), the number of unemployed rose by 9 000 people from the 4th quarter of 2008 to the 4th quarter of 2008. The entire increase related to men. The unemployment rate was 2.9 per cent of the labour force in the 4th of 2009, while it was 2.6 per cent in the same quarter of 2008. These figures must not be mistaken for the seasonally-adjusted figures. Among men, the unemployment rate was 3.4 per cent, while the corresponding figure for women was 2.4 per cent. The average unemployment rate for 2009 as a whole was 3.2 per cent.

The number of underemployed was 54 000 in the 4th quarter of 2009, which is the same level as the 4th quarter of 2008. Underemployment is employees with part-time settled working hours who have tried to find more work. The group of underemployed and unemployed as a whole wanted work corresponding to 83 000 full-time equivalents in the third quarter of 2009 – up 10 000 from the year before.

Decrease in employment

From the 4th quarter of 2008 to the 4th quarter of 2008, employment fell by 28 000 people.The decline in employment was among the young; within the last year, a total of 25 000 people under 30 have left the labour market. The LFS shows an increase among young persons who report education as the main activity during the same period.

The decline in employment has been particularly high within wholesale and retail and manufacturing. Manufacturing has had a reduction of 22 000 people, which is a decrease of over 8 per cent. Wholesale and retail experienced a reduction of 12 000 people.

There has been a decrease of 11 000 persons on temporary contracts in the past year. In the 4th quarter of 2009 this corresponds to 7.9 per cent of the total employment, which is a reduction from 8.2 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2008. In the 4th quarter of 2009 the LFS shows a total of 180 000 people on temporary contracts.

Lower labour force participation

The labour force fell by 19 000 between the 4th quarter of 2008 and 4th quarter of 2009. In the same period, there was an increase in the population of 53 000, hence the number of persons outside the labour force in total increased by 72 000.

The total labour force participation in Norway in the 4th quarter of 2009 was 71.8 per cent, down 1.6 percentage points from the corresponding period in 2008. Of the 19 000 reduction in the labour force, 11 000 were men. This makes the labour force participation among men 74.6 per cent, and 68.9 per cent among women.

A new industry classification was introduced as from the publication of the first quarter of 2009. Here is an article presenting general information about the new Norwegian industry classification.

Outside the labour force

From the 4th quarter of 2008 to the 4th quarter of 2009 the number of persons who are outside the labour force rose by 72 000. Of the increase, 32 000 report education as their main activity, while 31 000 give retirement as their main activity. Within the latter group, it is especially the age group 40-54 that distinguishes itself, with an increase of 13 000 from the 4th quarter of 2008; 10 000 of these are women.

Tables

• Table 1. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status(LFS) and sex. 1000
• Table 2. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status(LFS) and sex. Changes in 1000
• Table 3. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status(LFS) and sex. Per cent
• Table 4. Persons in the labour force and employed persons aged 15-74, by age and sex (LFS). 1000
• Table 5. Persons in the labour force and employed persons aged 15-74, by age and sex (LFS). In per cent of the population
• Table 6. Persons aged 15-74, employed persons by contractual/usual working hours per week¹ and unemployedpersons by age and sex (LFS). 1000
• Table 7. Persons in the labour force aged 15-74 by age and sex (LFS). 1 000. 1000
• Table 8. Persons in the labour force aged 15-74 by age and sex (LFS). As per cent of all in each group'
• Table 9. Employed persons aged 15-74 by sex and contractual/usual working hours per week (LFS). 1 000
• Table 10. Population aged 15-74, by main activity, part-time employment and age (LFS). 1 000
• Table 11. Employed persons aged 15-74 by major industry division (LFS). 1 000
• Table 12. Number of man-hours worked per week2, by industry division (LFS). 1 000
• Table 13. Employed persons aged 15-74, total, and employed persons at work by status and sex. Number of man-weeks worked¹ and actual working hours per week (LFS). 1000
• Table 14. Employed persons aged 15-74 and absence from work¹ during the whole reference weekby reason for absence and sex (LFS). 1 000
• Table 15. Employed persons aged 15-74 and absence from work¹ during the whole reference weekby reason for absence and sex (LFS). Per Cent
• Table 16. Employees aged 15-74 with temporary jobs, by major industry division (LFS). 1000
• Table 17. Employees aged 15-74 with temporary jobs, by major industry division (LFS).In per cent of all employees
• Table 18. Unemployed persons aged 15-74 by sex and age (LFS). 1000 and per cent
• Table 19. Unemployed persons aged 15-74 by duration of job search (LFS). 1 000 and per cent
• Table 20. Unemployed persons aged 15-74, by main activity (LFS). 1 000
• Table 21. Unemployed and underemployed persons aged 15-74, by sex and desired working hours per week.Number of man-weeks (of 37,5 hours) supplied'
• Table 22. This table is omitted. More information are presented in a separate article
• Table 23. Employed persons aged 15-74, by sex and region (LFS) 1 000
• Table 24. Employed persons aged 15-74, by sex and regions (LFS) as per cent of all inn each group