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%.

Norway’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate eased at 4.4% in May 2026, from 4.6% in the previous month and at its lowest level since December 2025. The number of unemployed persons eased to 135 thousand from 140 thousand in April. At the same time, the employment rate eased to 69.5% from 70.3%, as the number of employed individuals fell by 29 thousand to 2.911 million. The labor force participation rate likewise declined to 72.7% from 73.6% in April. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate, which covers those aged 15 to 24, rose to 14.6%, from 11.1% in the previous month.

Norway’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate eased to 4.6% in April 2026 from 4.9% in March, which was the highest level since June 2025. The number of unemployed persons declined to 142 thousand from 150 thousand in March. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 70.2% from 69.7%, as the number of employed individuals increased by 19 thousand to 2.937 million. The labor force participation rate also edged up to 73.6% from 73.3% in March, with the labor force expanding by 11 thousand to 3.079 million people aged 15 to 74. Total man-weeks worked, adjusted to a 37.5-hour workweek, increased to 2.182 million from 2.139 million in the prior period. In the meantime, the youth unemployment rate, which covers those aged 15 to 24, edged down to 13.9% from 14.0%. Compared to April last year, the jobless rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the 4.4% recorded a year earlier.