Registered unemployed among immigrants (discontinued in Statistics Norway), Q2 2004

Highest among Africans

Immigrants from Africa had the highest unemployment rate at 18.2 per cent in May 2004, compared with 13.2 per cent for immigrants from Asia. Unemployment among immigrants from South and Central America and Eastern Europe was 10.9 and 10.3 per cent respectively. Immigrants from the Nordic countries had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.2 per cent, followed by immigrants from other western European countries at 4.4 per cent. Unemployment among immigrants from North America and Oceania was 5.3 per cent. However, this is the smallest immigrant group, with only 219 registered unemployed.

As stated above, the growth in unemployment among immigrants in total was marginal. Immigrants from Africa experienced the highest growth at 0.5 percentage points, while immigrants from Asia had a growth of 0.2 percentage points. The rate remained flat or fell slightly among the other groups. Immigrants from South and Central America had the highest decline, at 0.3 percentage points.

New EU countries

Unemployment among immigrants from the new EU countries in Eastern Europe was 6.1 per cent at the end of May 2004. This compares with 11.7 per cent among immigrants from other eastern European countries. In other words, unemployment among immigrants from the new EU countries is closer to that of western immigrants than non-western immigrants. The changes were only marginal within both eastern European groups last year.

Only increase among women

Looking at the population as a whole, unemployment among men was 4.0 per cent in the second quarter of 2004, compared with 3.3 per cent for women. The corresponding rates for immigrants were 10.8 and 8.7 per cent respectively. In both groups women were more affected by higher unemployment than men, as unemployment among women increased by 0.1 percentage points in the entire population and 0.3 percentage points in the immigrant population. Unemployment remained stable among immigrant men and fell by 0.1 percentage points for men in the population as a whole.

One third on labour market schemes are immigrants

The number of people on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) increased from 15 161 in May 2003 to 21 061 in May 2004. The figure increased from 4 959 to 5 925 for immigrants. Immigrants accounted for 28 per cent of all participants on such schemes and included mainly non-westerners.

As a percentage of the entire population, participation in labour market schemes increased from 0.5 per cent to 0.6 per cent. For the immigrant population this figure increased from 2.0 to 2.3 per cent.

Immigrants from Africa and Asia had the highest participation rates in May 2004 at 4.1 and 3.1 per cent respectively.

Please note that the occupationally disabled are no longer included in these figures. As a result the 2003 figures are slightly lower than previously published figures.

Tables:

• Table 1 Registered unemployed aged 16-74 years, by region of birth and sex. In absolute figures and per cent of the labour force. By the end of February 2003, May 2003, February 2004 and May 2004
• Table 2 Participants in ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes), by region of birth and sex. In absolute figures and per cent of persons aged 16-74 years. By the end of February 2003, May 2003, February 2004 and May 2004
• Table 3 Registered unemployed and participants in ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes), by region of birth and time of residence in Norway. By the end of May 2003 and 2004. In per cent of persons in total aged 16-74 years
• Table 4 Registered unemployed, by region of birth and county of residence. By the end of May 2003. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons in total 16-74 years
• Table 5 Registered unemployed, by region of birth and county of residence. By the end of May 2004. Absolute figures and per cent of persons in total 16-74 years
• Table 6 Registered participants in ordinary labour market schemes, by region of birth and county of residence. By the end of May 2004. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons in total 16-74 years
• Table 7 Registered unemployed first generation immgrants from Eastern Europe, by EU status of the country of birth. By the end of May 2003 and 2004. Absolute numbers and in per cent of the labour force