Fewer people are struggling to get a job – E24

The shortage of labor has come down significantly to more normal levels, Nav survey shows. But there is still a great need for nurses.

– In two years, the shortage has been significantly reduced overall, but there are large industry and occupational differences. Within health and care, the shortage is significant, and businesses report a large shortage of nurses, healthcare workers and medical specialists, says director of labor and welfare Hans Christian Holte.

The labor shortage in Norway is estimated at 43,600 people, according to Nav’s annual business survey. That is significantly down from 2023, 9,250 people lower, and about the same as the average for the last ten years.

The survey does not look at unemployment, but at the demand side. In other words, how easy or difficult it is for companies and other businesses to get hold of people.

23 percent of businesses say they have struggled to get hold of people in the last three months. A total of 10,665 private and public enterprises responded to the survey.

Unemployment has been low in Norway for a long time. At the same time, the economy has been characterized by high price growth and interest rate increases in the wake of the corona pandemic, and economic growth has leveled off recently.

In some industries, such as the oil sector and many export industries, there are good times. On the other hand, it is heavier, for example, in the construction industry.

– All in all, there are still great opportunities to get more of those on the outside into working life, says Holte.

Lack of nurses

The health professions nurse, health worker and the collective term other health professions are the individual professions where there is the greatest shortage. It has been high for these professions for several years.

Within health and social services, a total of 13,800 people are missing, Nav estimates. Although there are around 800 fewer people than last year, it is still “a historically high level”.

The sector employs a large proportion, about one in five in Norway. In terms of percentage, this is also where most businesses report recruitment problems, with a whopping 40 per cent.

The accommodation and catering industry is among those with the greatest recruitment problems, after health and certain parts of the industry. 28 per cent respond that they have not been able to recruit, or employ someone with lower or different skills than desired.

Less optimism

Nav’s survey also looks at whether businesses expect increased staffing in the future.

Employment expectations have fallen since last year. The net share The net shareThe difference between those who expect increased employment and those who expect downsizing. who expect employment growth is now 11 percent.

– We have to go back to 2016 to find lower optimism and it is only three times in the last 20 years that it has been as low as now, says Holte.

Construction is among the industries that have become more pessimistic.

On the opposite side, there is increased optimism within the oil industry. The net proportion expecting higher employment here is up to 23 per cent. Information and communication was the industry with the greatest optimism, although it fell somewhat from last year.