Employment among immigrants, register-based, 2007, 4th quarter

People born abroad by foreign-born parents are defined as immigrants. They must also be registered as residents in Norway for at least six months. Figures on employed persons on short - term stay have been published recently.

Strongest increase among immigrants from the eastern EU countries

Immigrants from the EU countries in the east constituted the largest increase with 12 635 employed, most of whom were labour immigrants, a growth of 70 per cent within this group compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. The majority, i.e. 80 per cent, of these newcomers, were men who increased the proportion of immigrants within industries such as construction and labour recruitment and provision of personnel. As a share of the employed in the population as a whole the immigrant group in total increased from 7.6 to 8.6 per cent.

Also a strong growth among other immigrants

The employment rate among immigrants from countries outside Europe and North-America grew faster than the average for the population as a whole. While the national average rate increased by 1.6 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2006 to 2007, the rate among immigrants from Asia and Africa increased by 3.0 and 3.8 percentage points respectively.

Despite employment growth within all immigrant groups, there are still large differences in the employment level among them. Immigrants from the EU countries, who mainly consist of labour immigrants, have an employment rate higher than the national average at 71.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2007. As for the other groups concerned, the rates are as follows: Immigrants from Africa 49.0 per cent, from Asia 56.3 per cent, from Eastern Europe outside the EU 62 per cent and from South and Central America 65.3 per cent. One of the factors behind some of these low employment rates is a relatively high proportion of newly arrived refugees within some of these groups, especially the African one. In addition, there is also a very low employment rate among women from some Asian and African countries which also reduces the average rate.

Immigrants had in total an employment rate at 63.3 per cent which is 3.2 percentage points higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. In the population as a whole the employment rate climbed from 70 to 71.6 per cent.

Many non-westerners in occupations that do not require higher qualifications

Distribution by nine main occupational groups shows that non-western employees are overrepresented in occupations that do not require higher qualifications. 20 per cent of the non-western employees worked in this group, compared with 5.8 per cent in the working population as a whole (with information of occupation). Western employees are more likely to work in professional occupations. 23 per cent of the western group had such occupations compared with 12 per cent in the working population as a whole and 7.8 per cent of non-western employees. As for most of the other occupations concerned, there are fewer differences among the population groups.

Norwegians born by foreign-born immigrants (descendants)

Descendants constitute a rather young population group where as many as 44 per cent are below 20 years of age, and many are likely to be students/pupils and thus not included in the labour force.

If we, however, look at the group of employed aged 20 to 24 years, the employment rate is 72.6 per cent, which is 10 percentage points higher than the employment rate in the same age group among first generation immigrants and only 3 percentage points below the total average rate for this age group.

We also see much the same pattern among those aged 25 to 29 years.

Tables:

• Table 1 Employed by immigrant background, region of birth and sex . Q4 2006 and Q4 2007. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons aged 15-74 years in each group
• Table 2 Employed by immigrant background, region of birth and age. Q4 2007. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons in total in each group
• Table 3 Employed by immigrant background, region of birth, sex and labour market status. Q4 2007. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons aged 15-74 years in each group
• Table 4 Employed first generation immigrants by region of birth and years of residence in Norway. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons aged 15-74 years in each group. Q4 2007
• Table 5 Employed by years of residence in Norway, age and region of birth. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons in total in each group. Q4 2007
• Table 6 Employed aged 15-74 years by selected industries, immigrant background and region of birth. Q4 2007. Per cent
• Table 7 Employed aged 15-74 years, by region of birth and selected industries. Q4 2007. Per cent
• Table 8 Employed immigrants aged 15-74 years by selectred industries and region of birth. Q4 2007. Absolute figures and in per cent of employed in total within each group
• Table 9 Employed first generation immigrants by selcted countries of birth and sex. Absolute figures and in per cent of persons aged 15-74 years within each group Q4 2007.
• Table 10 Employees by immigrant-background and economic sector. Absolute figures and in per cent. Q4 2006 and 2007
• Table 11 Employees by economic sector, sex and region of birth. Q4 2007. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 12 Employed by occupational groups and region of birth. Absolute numbers and in per cent. Q4 2007
• Table 13 Employed by county of residence and immigrant-background. Absolute numbers and in per cent of people 15-74 years in each group. Q4 2006 and 2007
• Table 14 People aged 15-74 years by sex, birth of region and labour force status. Q4 2007
• Table 15 People aged 15-74 years by sex, birth of region and labour force status. Per cent. Q4 2007