Norway faces labor challenges as government report highlights recruitment issues in rural areas

Several municipalities and industries in Norway are facing significant challenges in recruiting skilled labor, particularly in rural areas. This concern is highlighted in a government report to be presented on Friday. Before its release, the government invited NRK to participate in the Medvind project, where 26-year-old Tony Kjellstad Pedersen has secured a permanent position after initially receiving partial salary support from NAV, Norway’s Labour and Welfare Administration.

“I spent 2.5 years with NAV, waking up not knowing what to do. I even cried and turned back on my first day of work,” Pedersen shared. Now, he has been employed for almost five years as a car preparer at Møller Medvind, expressing satisfaction with his job and a desire to continue.

In the report, the government states that the greatest potential for addressing labor shortages lies in reducing the number of people leaving the workforce, particularly those on disability. They have set a goal of 150,000 more employed individuals by 2030 and outlined specific targets for groups such as people on disability and non-Western immigrants.

Proposed measures include reducing the number of new recipients of work assessment allowances under 35, decreasing long-term sick leave, and increasing the percentage of disabled individuals and immigrants entering the labor market.

Labor Minister Tonje Brenna acknowledged the positive impact of the Medvind initiative, emphasizing the need for more public sector inclusion and affirming that soon a parliamentary report on labor market policy would propose concrete solutions.

In Møller Medvind, many individuals supported by wage subsidies from NAV have transitioned to full-time employment, showcasing the effectiveness of these initiatives. Brenna noted that increasing part-time work is also crucial to integrating more people into the workforce, stating, “It’s better for people to work a little than not at all.”