Number of unemployed workers in Norway increased by 3,300 last week

In the last week, a total of 197,200 job seekers and completely and partially unemployed workers have been registered at the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). 

That is an increase of 3,300 from the previous week. Unemployment thus amounts to 7% of the labor force.

“The increase is mainly due to more people becoming partially unemployed. It is common for the number of partially unemployed to increase in January because many are back on their part-time jobs after being out of work during Christmas. 

“At the same time, there is an increasing number of those who do not have a job to return to,” NAV chief Hans Christian Holte noted.

The preliminary figures show that 122,900 people are registered as completely unemployed at the NAV. That constitutes 4.3% of the labor force. 

Gross unemployment

Gross unemployment, which is the sum of the number of completely unemployed workers and job seekers on NAV measures, amounts to 4.8% of the labor force (137,200 people).

In addition, 60,000 people are registered as partially unemployed.

The number of completely unemployed people has changed little from last week (an increase of 800). However, there are 2,200 more partially unemployed workers compared to last week. The number of job seekers on measures has increased by 300.

The NAV figures show that 36,000 of the completely unemployed workers are laid off, and the same applies to 27,800 of the partially unemployed. 

Unemployment benefit applications

A total of 63,900 laid-off job seekers have now been registered at the NAV. That makes up 2.3% of the labor force.

The number of new unemployment benefit applications sent to the NAV has also decreased. 

During week two of 2021, Nav received 7,900 new applications for unemployment benefits. That is 2,800 fewer than the week before. 

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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