Introduction programme for immigrants, 2009

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

Most participants from Somalia

In 2009, the highest number of participants came from Somalia, Eritrea, Iraq, Burma and Afghanistan. Eritrea and the Palestinian Territory had the highest increase compared with the previous year, with over 800 and nearly 400 more participants respectively.

Participation in the introduction programme is a right and 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. The female share decreases with age.

High share of participants from Burma, Palestinian territory and Eritrea

The number of participants as a share of the total number of immigrants in a certain year can be a useful measure for participation. Among those who immigrated in 2009, there were however many who didn’t manage to start before the end of the year. It is therefore better to look at those who immigrated in 2008 and their participation in the programme in 2009. For immigrants settled in Norway during 2008, the highest degree of participation in 2009 was among those from Burma, the Palestinian Territory and Eritrea.

Most participants in Oslo

In 2009, as in the previous years, there were most participants in Oslo. Bergen,Trondheim, Kristiansand and Bodø followed next.

Many stay in the programme

71 percent of the participants in 2009 were still registered in the programme at the end of the year. 17 percent completed the full duration of the programme, while 6 percent 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. 92 percent participated in this course during 2009. Nearly 31 percent 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.

Most men among those who had work besides the programme

15 percent of the participants had some work besides participation in the programme. 19 percent of the male and 12 percent of the female participants were working besides the programme.

Some received social assistance

17 percent of those who participated the whole year received social assistance in more than 6 months.

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

Among those 2 900 who received introduction benefit all 12 months in 2009, nearly 500 persons, or 17 percent, received social assistance in addition to the introduction benefit in 6 months or more. In 2008 this share was 16 percent.

Tables:

• Table 1 Participants, by country of birth and sex. 2009
• Table 2 Participants, by municipality of Introduction programme and sex. Absolute figures and percent. Selected municipalities. 2007-2009
• Table 3 Participants, by end of year status, sex and county. 2009
• Table 4 Participants, by county, sex and type of course. 2009
• Table 5 Participants by country of birth, sex and year of immigration. 2009
• Table 6 Participants, by end of year status. 2005-2009
• Table 7 Participants who have had paid work in addition to particpating in the programme, by year end of year status and sex. Absolute figures and percent. 2009
• Table 8 Persons receiving introduction benefit all 2009, who were also long-term recipients of social assistance same year, by sex, marital status, and children
• Table 9 Persons receiving introduction benefit all 2009, who were also long-term recipients of social assistance in 2009, by county