Fewer EEA citizens take on seasonal work in Norway
From 2017 to 2019, the number of seasonal workers from European Economic Area (EEA) countries has fallen by 16%, while the number of seasonal workers from third countries, who must have a visa to come to Norway, increased by 29%.
These are the figures the newspaper Nation received from the Directorate of Immigration in May.
The figures include all industries.
In agriculture, forestry, and fishing, the number of seasonal workers from third countries has increased by 24%.
The general explanation for why there are fewer seasonal workers from EEA countries and more from third countries outside Europe is the economic development in Poland, the Baltic countries, and partly Romania, according to researcher Harald Espeli at BI Norwegian Business School.
Furthermore, new challenges for seasonal workers have emerged due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
