Decrease in employment for all counties

Between 4th quarter 2008 and 4th quarter 2009 the number of employed persons decreased by 1.1 per cent. Østfold had the highest decrease with 2.4 per cent, while Finnmark had the lowest decrease with 0.1 per cent.

Besides Østfold, Vestfold, Hedmark and Telemark had the highest decrease, all with more than 2.0 per cent.

Highest decrease in the secondary industries

For Norway as a whole, employment in the secondary industries decreased by 3.7 per cent between 2008 and 2009. The decrease occurred within manufacturing and construction, while mining, extracting of oil and gas and electricity and water supply had an increase. All counties, except Finnmark, had a decrease in the number of employed persons in the secondary industries.

Increase in public services

The tertiary industries decreased by 0.4 per cent, for the country as a whole, between 2008 and 2009. The decrease occurred in the private service sector, while public services had an increase. Part of the increase in public services came from other industries. Buskerud and Finnmark had the highest decrease, both with 1.5 per cent, while Sogn og Fjordane and Nord-Trøndelag had an increase.

Source: Statistics Norway