Registered unemployed among immigrants (discontinued in Statistics Norway), Q2 2002

In percentage points unemployment among immigrants from Africa increased the most, 2.0.

This group also had the highest unemployment rate, 14.6 per cent, while immigrants from Asia and Eastern Europe had 10.6 and 9.2 per cent respectively. The rates for immigrants from the western regions were as usual only a few decimals higher than for the entire population. These trends are in fact very stable in the Norwegian labour market. Among the 11 602 registered unemployed immigrants 9 616 had a non-western background, a proportion of 83 per cent. Hence, unemployment among immigrants is in particular a non-western phenomenon.

Highest percentage increase among western immigrants

Despite a much lower level in registered unemployment, the immigrants from the Nordic countries and elsewhere in Western Europe had the highest percentage growth in the absolute numbers of unemployed from May 2001 to May 2002, with 29 and 28 per cent respectively. Immigrants from Africa and Asia had a growth at about 25 per cent. In the entire population the growth among registered unemployed was 22 per cent.

More unemployed women

Females, in the entire population as well as among immigrants, had a higher increase in the absolute numbers of registered unemployed. From May 2001 to May 2002 the increases in these two groups were 24 and 28 per cent respectively. Among men the corresponding growth was 21 and 23 per cent, but still the unemployment rate among men is the highest. In the entire population men had a registered unemployment rate of 3.0 per cent versus the women's rate of 2.7 per cent. Among immigrants the difference is even higher, 8.5 per cent for men versus 7.0 per cent for women.

Still decrease in labour market schemes

The number of persons covered by ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) continues to decrease. At the national level there has been a decrease of about 7 per cent from May 2001 to May 2002 - 13 761 to 12 527 participants. Among immigrants this decrease was about 15 per cent - 4 522 to 3 848 participants. These 3 848 immigrants accounted for 31 per cent of all persons covered by such schemes and included mostly non-westerners. In relation to the entire immigrant population aged 16 - 74, immigrants had a percentage of participants of 1.7 while the percentage for the entire population was 0.4.

Among immigrants - women have a slightly higher rate of participation than men, 1.7 per cent versus 1.6.

In some groups of immigrants the differences are larger. Among East-Europeans the females had a rate of 2.5 per cent and the males, 1.9 per cent. Also among Asian immigrants, women had a higher rate of participation, 2.5 per cent, versus men's 2.1 per cent.

In absolute numbers 2 024 female and 1 824 male immigrants participated in labour market schemes at the end of May 2002.

These statistics are published quarterly in the Daily Bulletin of Statistics.

Statistics for employees among immigrants are published annually. Figures for 2001 were published 28th May.

Tables:

• Table 1 Registered unemployed aged 16 - 74 years by region of birth and sex. In absolute numbers and per cent of the labour force. By the end of February 2001, May 2001, February 2002 and May 2002
• Table 2 Participants in ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) by region of birth and sex . In absolute numbers and per cent of persons aged 16 - 74 years. By the end of February 2001, May 2001, February 2002 and May 2002
• Table 3 Registered unemployed and participants in ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes)by region of birth and time of residence in Norway. In per cent of persons in total aged 16 - 74 years. By the end of May 2001 and 2002
• Table 4 Registered unemployed by region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons in total 16 - 74 years. By the end of May 2001
• Table 5 Registered unemployed by region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons in total 16 - 74 years. By the end of May 2002
• Table 6 Registered participants in ordinary labour market schemes, by region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons in total 16-74 years. By the end of May 2002