Introduction programme for immigrants, 2012

The number of participants in 2012 is thereby the highest since the programme started in 2005.

Most participants from Eritrea

As in 2011, the highest number of participants came from Eritrea, followed by Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Ethiopia. Somalia had the highest increase compared with the previous year, with 28 per cent more participants.

Some categories of immigrants have a right to participate in the introduction programme, 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.

High share of participants from Eritrea and Myanmar

The number of participants as a share of the total number of immigrants in a certain year can be a useful measure of participation. Among those who immigrated in 2011, there were, however, many who were unable to start until the end of the year. It is therefore better to look at those who immigrated in 2011 and their participation in the programme in 2012. For immigrants settled in Norway during 2011, the highest degree of participation in 2011 was among those from Eritrea and Myanmar.

Most participants in Oslo

In 2012, as in the previous years, there were most participants in Oslo, followed by Bergen, Trondheim and Kristiansand.

Two in three were still registered in the programme at the end of the year

Sixty-six per cent of the participants in 2012 were still registered in the programme at the end of the year. Twenty-two per cent completed the full duration of the programme, while five 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. Eighty-seven per cent participated in this course during 2012. Thirty-two 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. Forty-one per cent participated in courses categorised under “Other”.

Some received social assistance

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

Among the 4 300 who received introduction benefit for the whole of 2012, nearly 800 persons, or more than18 per cent, received social assistance in addition to the introduction benefit for at least six months. In 2011, this share was nearly 18 per cent.