–In July 2007, 75 000 foreigners held valid work permits in Norway. This number is an all-time high, says Morten Hansen, managing Head of Department in UDI.

At the same time in 2006 the number was 43 500 valid work permits.

Closer to 48 000 of the permits are held by persons from the new EEA-countries. Poland, Lithuania, Germany and the UK dominate the work migration to Norway. The number of Polish citizens has increased by 71 per cent since the same period last year, while the number of Lithuanian citizens has increased by 52 per cent.

81 per cent of the work permits are held by men. Within temorary staffing and construction the percentage of men is particulary high, over 90 per cent. Women mainly work within the sectors of health and social services, education and public administration.  

All in all, 25 500 new work permits have been granted so far this year, an increase by 43 per cent compared to the same period last year.

- Norway has a great need to increase the work force and this makes i necessary for employers to recruit labour from abroad, says Hansen.

- For UDI it is important to provide good service for both enmplyers and employees. We have consequently established a separate phone line in order to allow employers to ask questions regarding the process of employing foreign labour, says Hansen.