ZCZC
BCN-34
NORWAY-ECONOMY-UNEMPLOYMENT
Norway’s unemployment decreases further in May
OSLO, June 4, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Unemployment in Norway decreased further
in May as 78,200 people were registered as full-time unemployed or as
jobseekers in the welfare agency at the end of the month, online newspaper
Norway Today reported Sunday.
It is 14,900 fewer than a year ago, equivalent to 2.8 percent of the
workforce, down from 3.3 percent last year, according to seasonally adjusted
figures from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV).
The number of registered unemployed in Norway fell by 1,700 people from
April to May. This corresponds to 2.3 percent of the workforce.
“After unemployment has remained relatively stable over the last three
months, we now see a significant decline,” NAV director Sigrun Vageng was
quoted as saying. “We clearly see that the trend of falling unemployment
continues in the counties and occupational groups affected by the downturns
in the oil industry,” she said.
Gross unemployment, which also includes jobseekers who participate in
measures from NAV, fell by 2,500 people in the last month.
By the end of May, 60,000 were completely unemployed at NAV, a decline of
10,900 compared with May of last year. About half, 55 percent of the
unemployed, received unemployment benefits in May.
BSS/XINHUA/HR/1445