Labour · Europe & Central Asia · High income
Norway: the labour market
Labour force is 3.1m (2025), 106th of 187 in the world and 26th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Participation rate is 65.6% (2025), 55th of 187 in the world and 7th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Women's participation is 62.1% (2025), 37th of 187 in the world and 6th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.
Labour force
Norway
Participation rate
NorwayEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
13 indicators
Labour: Norway in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour forceLabour force, total | 3.1m2025 | 106/187 | 26/49 | 2.4m | 2.7m | 2.9m | +9.3%since 2015 | 429m | 734m | 3.7bn | |
| Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+ | 65.6%2025 | 55/187 | 7/49 | 66.8% | 67.3% | 65.7% | −1.0 ppsince 2015 | 58.2% | 61.0% | 61.0% | |
| Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+ | 62.1%2025 | 37/187 | 6/49 | 61.3% | 63.8% | 62.5% | −1.1 ppsince 2015 | 51.1% | 54.3% | 48.9% | |
| Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO) | 62.6%2025 | 55/187 | 7/49 | 64.5% | 65.0% | 62.8% | −1.1 ppsince 2015 | 55.1% | 58.3% | 58.1% | |
| UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO) | 4.6%2025 | 109/187 | 34/49 | 3.5% | 3.5% | 4.4% | +0.3 ppsince 2015 | 5.4% | 4.4% | 4.8% | |
| Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO) | 4.3%2025 | 117/187 | 36/49 | 3.3% | 2.9% | 4.1% | +0.3 ppsince 2015 | 5.7% | 4.6% | 4.9% | |
| Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO) | 13.4%2025 | 91/187 | 28/49 | 11.0% | 9.2% | 11.2% | +3.6 ppsince 2015 | 14.0% | 11.5% | 13.4% | |
| Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, % | 6.2%2025 | 163/170 | 42/46 | · | 5.8% | 6.2% | −0.1 ppsince 2015 | 11.4% | 10.6% | — | |
| Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment | 95.1%2025 | 4/187 | 1/49 | 93.6% | 93.7% | 95.1% | +1.1 ppsince 2015 | 83.3% | 88.9% | 53.6% | |
| Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO) | 4.2%2025 | 179/187 | 49/49 | 5.7% | 5.5% | 4.4% | −1.1 ppsince 2015 | 12.9% | 8.0% | 42.4% | |
| Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment | 2.5%2025 | 153/187 | 37/49 | 4.3% | 2.5% | 2.0% | +0.4 ppsince 2015 | 6.7% | 2.9% | 25.8% | |
| Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment | 17.8%2025 | 111/187 | 38/49 | 21.8% | 20.2% | 19.7% | −2.2 ppsince 2015 | 23.7% | 22.2% | 23.7% | |
| Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment | 79.7%2025 | 21/187 | 8/49 | 73.9% | 77.3% | 78.3% | +1.7 ppsince 2015 | 69.7% | 74.9% | 50.6% |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Youth NEET rate−0.1 pp6.2% in 2025
- Wage workers+1.1 pp95.1% in 2025
- Vulnerable employment−1.1 pp4.2% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- Women's participation−1.1 pp62.1% in 2025
- Employment rate−1.1 pp62.6% in 2025
- Unemployment+0.3 pp4.6% in 2025
- Female unemployment+0.3 pp4.3% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Norway and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Norway. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Norway | Russia | Sweden | Finland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force | 3.1m2025 | 72.8m2025 | 5.7m2025 | 2.9m2025 |
| Participation rate | 65.6%2025 | 61.1%2025 | 64.6%2025 | 59.7%2025 |
| Women's participation | 62.1%2025 | 54.5%2025 | 61.5%2025 | 56.5%2025 |
| Employment rate | 62.6%2025 | 59.8%2025 | 59.0%2025 | 54.0%2025 |
| Unemployment | 4.6%2025 | 2.1%2025 | 8.7%2025 | 9.5%2025 |
| Female unemployment | 4.3%2025 | 2.2%2025 | 8.6%2025 | 8.9%2025 |
| Youth unemployment | 13.4%2025 | 7.6%2025 | 24.3%2025 | 21.5%2025 |
| Youth NEET rate | 6.2%2025 | 6.7%2025 | 5.0%2025 | 9.1%2025 |
| Wage workers | 95.1%2025 | 93.7%2025 | 89.8%2025 | 87.5%2025 |