Norway's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in August 2026 from an eighteen-month low of 4.2% in the previous month. The number of unemployed persons increased to 138 thousand from 128 thousand in July. The youth unemployment rate, which covers those aged 15 to 24, was up to 13.6% from 12.0%. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged down to 69.8% in August from 70.2% in the previous month, with the number of employed persons decreasing to 2.926 million from 2.943 million. The labor force participation rate inched lower to 73.1% from 73.3%, with the labor force reducing by 7 thousand from a month earlier to 3.064 million. Total man-weeks worked, adjusted to a 37.5-hour workweek, advanced to 2.232 million from 2.199 million in the prior period. Compared with August last year, the jobless rate was 0.4 percentage point higher at 4.9%. source: Statistics Norway

Unemployment Rate in Norway increased to 4.50 percent in August from 4.20 percent in July of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Norway averaged 4.08 percent from 1983 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 6.80 percent in March of 1993 and a record low of 2.10 percent in November of 1986. This page provides the latest reported value for - Norway Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Norway Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Norway increased to 4.50 percent in August from 4.20 percent in July of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Norway is expected to be 4.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Norway Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.60 percent in 2027 and 4.40 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-25 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jul 4.2% 4.6% 4.5%
2026-09-23 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Aug 4.5% 4.2% 4.5%
2026-10-22 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Sep 4.5% 4.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 2926.00 2943.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Employment Rate 69.80 70.20 percent Aug 2026
Job Vacancies 93300.00 106700.00 Jun 2026
Job Vacancy Rate 3.00 3.40 percent Jun 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 73.10 73.30 percent Aug 2026
Population 5.59 5.55 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 108.46 108.05 points Jun 2026
Registered Jobless Rate 2.00 2.10 percent Sep 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.50 4.20 percent Aug 2026
Wage Growth 4.78 4.41 percent Jun 2026
Wages 63700.00 63630.00 NOK/Month Jun 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 64040.00 63510.00 NOK/Month Jun 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 13.60 12.00 percent Aug 2026


Norway Unemployment Rate
In Norway, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.50 4.20 6.80 2.10 1983 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Norway Jobless Rate Rises in August
Norway's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in August 2026 from an eighteen-month low of 4.2% in the previous month. The number of unemployed persons increased to 138 thousand from 128 thousand in July. The youth unemployment rate, which covers those aged 15 to 24, was up to 13.6% from 12.0%. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged down to 69.8% in August from 70.2% in the previous month, with the number of employed persons decreasing to 2.926 million from 2.943 million. The labor force participation rate inched lower to 73.1% from 73.3%, with the labor force reducing by 7 thousand from a month earlier to 3.064 million. Total man-weeks worked, adjusted to a 37.5-hour workweek, advanced to 2.232 million from 2.199 million in the prior period. Compared with August last year, the jobless rate was 0.4 percentage point higher at 4.9%.
2026-09-23
Norway Jobless Rate Hits 17-Month Low
Norway’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.2% in July from an upwardly revised 4.6% in the previous month. This marked the lowest rate since February 2025, as the number of unemployed persons decreased to 130 thousand from 140 thousand in June, with unemployed males falling by 4.5% to 73 thousand, while the number of unemployed women decreased by 3.9% to 57 thousand. The youth unemployment rate, which covers those aged 15 to 24, dropped to 12.1% from 14.0%. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 70.2% from 69.7% a month earlier, with the number of employed persons increasing to 2.944 million from 2.918 million. The labour force participation rate increased to 73.3% from 73.0%, with the labour force expanding by 16 thousand to 3.074 million. Total man-weeks worked, adjusted to a 37.5-hour workweek, grew to 2.196 million from 2.175 million in the prior period. Compared with July last year, the unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher, at 4.4%.
2026-08-25
Norway Jobless Rate Ticks Up
Norway's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4.5% in June 2026 from a five-month low of 4.4% in the previous month. The number of unemployed persons increased to 139 thousand from 134 thousand in May. The youth unemployment rate, which covers those aged 15 to 24, fell to 13.0% from 14.4%. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 70.2% in June from 69.5% in the previous month, with the number of employed persons increasing to 2.939 million from 2.911 million. The labor force participation rate rose to 73.5% from 72.7%, with the labor force expanding by 32 thousand from a month earlier to 3.078 million. Total man-weeks worked, adjusted to a 37.5-hour workweek, decreased to 2.185 million from 2.2 million in the prior period. Compared with June last year, the jobless rate was 0.9 percentage point higher at 5.4%.
2026-07-21