Registered unemployed among immigrants (discontinued in Statistics Norway), Q2 2006

In these statistics, immigrants are defined as first-generation immigrants, i.e. people born abroad by foreign-born parents. They must also be registered as settled in Norway for at least six months. The figures are based on the Directorate of Labour's register of job seekers and are calculated as a fraction of the labour force. 14 384 immigrants were registered unemployed, which were 2 200 fewer than last year.

Stable differences between the groups

Measured in percentage points the decline in the unemployment rate has been stronger among immigrants than among the rest of the population. The relative decline was, however, strongest among the non-immigrants, since the level of unemployment was much lower.

In the second quarter of 2006 immigrants had an unemployment rate which was three times as high as the rate within the non-immigrant population. This difference has been stable for a long period. Within the immigrant groups the non-western had the strongest decline in percentage points, slight above two percentage points in each group. But the relative decline was, however, stronger within the western groups.

Also this quarter it was the immigrants from Africa who had the highest unemployment rate, at 15.0 per cent. This was seven times higher than the non-immigrant population. Immigrants from Asia had the second highest rate at 10.0 per cent registered unemployed, while they from Eastern Europe (outside EU countries) had 8.9 per cent and the group from South and Central America 8.0 per cent. The lowest rates were as usual recorded among immigrants from the western European countries and The Nordic countries at 2.5 and 2.8 per cent respectively. Immigrants from the new EU countries in the East and from North-America and Oceania had rates slightly above this level at 3.4 and 3.6 per cent respectively.

These differences seem to occur as a stable pattern in the Norwegian labour market. The high unemployment rate among African immigrants must be seen in connection with the relative high proportion of newly arrived immigrants in this group, especially refugees from Somalia.

Strongest fall among men

Male immigrants experienced the strongest fall in unemployment in the period, at 2.2 percentage points, while the decline in unemployment among immigrant women was 1.0 percentage points. In the second quarter 2006 the rates were 7.2 and 7.5 per cent respectively. This difference is contrary to the traditional gender difference among immigrants as registered unemployment is concerned. Traditionally we find a much higher rate among men than women. In the rest of the population, men and women had an equal rate in the second quarter, at 2.1 per cent. Also within this majority population men have traditionally had a (slight) higher registered unemployment rate.

Norwegian born by foreign-born parents

Only 430 people among the Norwegian born by foreign-born parents were registered as unemployed.

These people constituted 4.6 per cent which was 1.5 percentage point lower than in May 2005.

Hence the unemployment level within this group lies halfway between the first generation immigrants and the non-immigrant population.

Highest unemployment for immigrants with four to seven years of residence

The highest unemployment rate was recorded among immigrants with four to seven years of residence. This disparity is most likely due to the fact that newly arrived non-western immigrants, mostly refugees, go through language and job training before they enter the labour force as registered job seekers. For immigrants with seven years of residence or more, the unemployment rate is much lower, but we do not, however, see any equalization between the groups. African immigrants had also in this group the highest unemployment rate followed by the other non-western groups, and there is still a sharp distinction between westerners and non-westerners.

Labour market schemes

The number of people participating on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) also declines. From May 2005 to May 2006 this number decreased from 17 185 to 11 820, a fall at 30 per cent. Among immigrant-participators the number decreased from 4 972 to 3 699, a fall at 26 per cent.

As a percentage of the immigrant population, the participation was 1.3 per cent in May 2006. In the remaining population the participant rate was 0.3 per cent. Immigrants from Africa had the highest participant rate at 2.5 per cent.

Tables:

• Table 1 Registered unemployed by immigrant background, region of birth and sex. In absolute figures and in per cent of the labour force. By the end of May 2005 and 2006
• Table 2 Participants on ordinary labour market schemes (job programmes) by immigrant background, region of birth and sex. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 16 to 74 years. By the end of May 2005 and 2006
• 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 2005 and 2006. In per cent of persons in total aged 16 - 74 years
• Table 4 Registered unemployed by immigrant background, region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 16 to 74 years in each group. By the end of May 2005 and 2006
• Table 5 Participants on ordinary labour market schemes (job-programmes) by immigrant background, region of birth and county of residence. Absolute numbers and in per cent of persons aged 16 to 74 years in each group. By the end of May 2005 and 2006
• Table 6 Registered unemployed, by sex, immigrant background, region of birth and age. Absolute numbers and in per cent of the labour force. By the end of May 2005 and 2006