Adjusted for seasonal variations, there were 137 000 unemployed persons in August 2016. This corresponds to 4.9 per cent of the labour force.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) showed a gradual increase in unemployment from May (average of April-June) 2014 to August (average of July-September) 2015. From August 2015 until May 2016 the unemployment rate has been fairly stable at about 4.6-4.7 per cent.
From May to August, the LFS shows that the seasonally-adjusted number of unemployed persons increased by 5 000. This corresponds to a 0.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This change is within the LFS error margin. In comparison, the number of people registered as unemployed or on government initiatives to promote employment with the Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) increased by 1 000 from May to August. This figure is also based on seasonally-adjusted figures and three-month averages.
Small changes in employment
The LFS shows that the seasonally-adjusted number of employed persons increased by 12 000 from May to August, a change which is within the LFS error margin. From August 2015 to August 2016, the number of employed persons has been fairly stable. In the same period, the population aged 15–74 years has increased, and therefore the employment rate has decreased, from 68.0 per cent to 67.4 per cent in August 2016.
Source: SSB / Norway Today
