At the end of May, 86,800 were completely unemployed, partially unemployed and job seekers based on actions at net asset value, which makes up 3.0 percent of the workforce. Adjusted for seasonal changes, there is a decrease of 6,500 job seekers from April.
– In May, the unemployment rate was 1.6 percent and reached its lowest level since 2008, while demand remained very high. Now there are very good opportunities to integrate more people into working life, and it is important that we seize this opportunity, says Director of Labor and Social Welfare Hans Christian Holt.
47,100 people were registered as completely unemployed at the end of May, equivalent to 1.6 percent of the workforce. Total unemployment, which is the sum of the completely unemployed and job-seekers as measured, was 62,100 and represented 2.1 percent of the labor force. In addition, 24,700, or 0.9 percent of the workforce, were registered as partially unemployed.
2,700 of the unemployed were completely laid off, while the same was true of 2,800 of the partially unemployed. The laid-off made up a total of 0.2 percent of the workforce in May. After the temporary corona rules were repealed on April 1, many of the maximum iteration period expired. The number of layoffs is down 66 percent since the end of March, and is now back to what it was normal levels before the pandemic.
Figure 1: Evolution in the number of fully unemployed, partially unemployed and the sum of fully unemployed and job seekers as measured, as well as monthly total number of job seekers. Seasonal figures adjusted for rest periods
Figure 2: Evolution of the proportion of the totally unemployed, the partly unemployed and the sum of the totally unemployed and job seekers according to the measurements, plus the total monthly job seekers. Labor force ratio. Seasonal figures adjusted for rest periods
During the month of May, 12,300 new job seekers were registered with NAV. This corresponds to about 500 per working day, the same level as in April. People who say they have or will lose their jobs make up the largest group, with 28 percent of new job seekers. 11 percent said they quit their jobs and 11 percent said they were unsure of their job status.
Rejection of all professional groups
Adjusted for regular seasonal changes, the number of job seekers for all occupational groups decreased from April to May, except for people without a registered professional background. The decline was largest among people with a background in tourism and transportation, with 900 fewer job seekers. This is followed by service occupations and other businesses, as well as store and sales businesses, with a decrease of 700 job seekers each.
At the end of May, the proportion of the fully unemployed was highest in tourism and transport at 2.7 percent of the workforce, and lowest in educational and academic professions, at 0.5 percent. The proportion of the part-employed was highest in children and youth work, as well as service professions and other work with 1.6 percent of the workforce, and lowest in academic professions at 0.2 percent.
The biggest drop in Oslo
The number of job seekers decreased in all counties except Nordland, adjusted for regular seasonal changes. The relative decline was even greater in Oslo, where the number of job seekers fell 9 percent compared to April. In Nordland, the number of job seekers did not change from April to May.
The proportion of completely unemployed was highest in Oslo, as were Vestfold and Telemark at 2.0 percent of the workforce. Trondelag has the lowest unemployment rate, at 1.2 percent. There is less variation in the proportion of the underemployed in the different provinces. This share was the highest in Vestfold and Telemark, with 1.1 percent of the workforce, while six different counties had a 0.8 percent share.
Biggest drop among the oldest
The number of job seekers in May decreased for people aged 60 or older (-11%), followed by people in their fifties (-9%). The over-60 age group remains the only age group where the number of job seekers is still greater than it was in February 2020, just before the pandemic.
At the end of May, the proportion of the completely unemployed was highest in the 20-24 and 30-39 age groups, with 2.2 percent of the labor force, and lowest among those under 20 and people in their fifties at 1.1 percent. . The percentage of the part-employed was the highest in the age group 30-39 years, at 1.0 percent, and the lowest for those under the age of 20, at 0.2 percent of the labor force.
High demand for labor
During the month of May, 64,400 new vacancies were registered on arbeidplassen.no. This corresponds to 2,800 new job openings per working day, the same level as in May last year. Adjusted for seasonal changes, the number of vacancies decreased somewhat from April to May, but it is still at a high level.
Most of the new ads were in health, nursing and care (13,100), store and sales business (7,700), as well as tourism and transportation (6,600).
Key Figures in the Labor Market – Overview Page
For more information, contact the NAV Press Officer at 400 03144 or presse@nav.no.