Increase in unemployment rate among persons with higher education

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The number of registered unemployed with a tertiary education increased by 8 per cent, or 1 187 people, from November 2015 to November 2016. The increase was mainly in eastern and western Norway.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Unemployed persons registered at the Employment Office with tertiary education. Change in per cent November 2015 - November 2016

 

Registered unemployment among those with a higher education increased the most in Vestfold, followed by Rogaland and Hordaland. Nationally, there was a particularly strong increase among those with a tertiary education of more than four years duration.

For those with a lower secondary education as their highest education, the unemployment rate experienced a 6 per cent decline from November 2015 to November 2016, of 1 563 people. There was also a slight decrease in unemployment among those with a secondary level education, at almost 1 per cent, or 206 people. Overall unemployment fell by 1.3 per cent, or 1 004 people, from November 2015 to November 2016.

Major increase in unemployment in Western Norway

Figure 2

"Figure 2. Unemployed persons registered at the Employment Office 2016

Hordaland had the greatest unemployment rate increase from November 2015 to November 2016, with 13 per cent, or 1 077 people. For those with a long tertiary education, the increase was 25 per cent. Among those with a secondary level education, growth was 17 per cent, compared to 12 per cent among the unemployed with a short tertiary education.

Rogaland had the second highest growth in unemployment rates, with 11 per cent, or 1 175 people. The greatest growth occurred among those with a long tertiary education and was 34 per cent. Unemployment among those with a short tertiary education grew by 19 per cent.

The increase in unemployment among those with a higher education should be seen in the context of reductions in personnel in oil-related industries, where education levels are relatively high.

Decline in most counties 

Although some counties had strong growth in unemployment from November 2015 to November 2016, most counties had a decline. Telemark had the greatest decline, with 20 per cent, or 594 people. For the unemployed with education at primary and secondary school level, there was a decline of 22 per cent in Telemark, while those with a long university education saw a 10 per cent decrease.

Five counties had an increase in unemployment: the western counties of Hordaland, Rogaland and Møre og Romsdal, as well as Vestfold and Troms. In the other counties, unemployment fell from November 2015 to November 2016.

Two measurements of unemployment

1. NAV’s figures on registered unemployed persons.

2. Statistics Norway’s figures on unemployment based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS figures also include unemployed persons who are not registered with NAV, as well as those registered with NAV but who are classified as participants on labour market initiatives. Conversely, some registered unemployed persons are not classified as unemployed in the LFS. Persons on involuntary leave and age groups with long periods of unemployment, who no longer consider themselves active jobseekers.

 

Change to release of registered unemployment statistics

From the statistical year 2015, figures for registered unemployment will only be released once a year, with November as the reference month. NAV publishes figures every month. Statistics Norway focuses on publishing regional figures, as well as breakdowns of unemployed persons’ highest level of education. Statistics Norway releases monthly figures for a broader group of unemployed persons through the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

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