The impression has been confirmed. Foreign workers do no longer think of season. More people will like to work in Norway, whether it is winter or summer. The number of Bulgarians and Romanians has almost doubled since June.
There are about 80,000 foreigners with valid work permits in Norway by December 1, this year. In the previous years, the number of valid permits has decreased after the summer season, but it is not the same this year. The number has in fact been over 80,000 since August. More people wish to work in Norway. Compared to the same period last year, there were about 55,000 valid permits.
- The number confirms the impression we had in October, says the head of The Managed Migration Department, Karl Erik Sjøholt.
The largest number of workers is still those from the new EEA countries. Over 50,000 of the valid permits have been given to citizens of the new EEA countries. The number of permits in accordance to the regulations for the old EEA countries and that of the non-EEA countries are on the increase as well. These are about 30,000 valid permits.
Season, the whole year
The EEA Enlargement Agreement with Romania and Bulgaria was applied on August 1, 2007. The agreement implies that citizens from Romania and Bulgaria can apply for work permit in accordance to the EEA regulations just as all other citizens from the so-called new EEA countries.
By the end of September, there were almost 1600 Bulgarians and Romanians with valid permits in Norway. This number has increased by the end of October. August of 2006 was a high season when as many as 1000 persons had valid permits.
Skilled worker/specialist
Increasing more skilled workers are starting to work in Norway. By the end of November, 2730 permits have been granted to skilled workers. There were 2011 permits granted in total last year. By the end of November last year, 1793 permits had been granted.
More Indians apply to work in Norway, and more are coming here. Indians represent the largest group of permits granted to skilled workers. The number of permits granted to Indians increased to 450 last month and by the end of October the number has increased to 582. Russians are the next largest group. A total of 226 permits for skilled workers have been granted to Russians.
