Norwegian unemployment decreases further

NAVNAV.Photo: Norway Today Media

At the end of May, 78,200 people were registered as full-time unemployed or jobseekers who participated in benefits at Nav.

 

It is 14,900 fewer than a year ago, equivalent to 2.8 percent of the workforce, down from 3.3 percent last year.

The number of registered unemployed in Norway fell by 1,700 people from April to May. This corresponds to 2.3 percent of the workforce, according to seasonally adjusted figures from Nav.

It is almost ten years since the last time there was such a low level of unemployment in Norway.

“After unemployment has remained relatively stable over the last three months, we now see a significant decline. We clearly see that the trend of falling unemployment continues in the counties and occupational groups affected by the downturns in the oil industry,” says Nav Director Sigrun Vågeng.

Gross unemployment, which also includes jobseekers who participate in measures from Nav, fell by 2,500 people in the last month.

By the end of May, 60,000 were completely unemployed at Nav, a decline of 10,900 compared with May of last year. About half, 55 percent of the unemployed, received unemployment benefits in May.

Unemployment in May was lower in all counties compared with the previous year. The decline was highest in Rogaland by 33 percent, followed by Vest-Agder by 21 percent.

Vestfold and Finnmark were the highest unemployment rates in May, with 2.7 percent of the workforce. Unemployment was lowest in Sogn og Fjordane by 1.3 percent.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today