Areas of responsibility and policy instruments

The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service (NAV) is responsible for implementing the labour market policy. Their objective is to facilitate matching in the labour market between job seekers and vacant positions, and to ensure comprehensive follow-up of people who need work-oriented assistance to find employment.

For the unemployed, emphasis is put on active job-seeking throughout their period of unemployment. Information, advice and close individual follow-up of the unemployed is important if they are to succeed as far as possible in finding jobs. However, some job-seekers, such as the long-term unemployed, immigrants, young people and people with impaired work capacity, may need more assistance in the form of labour market measures.

Labour market measures, such as training, work experience and wage subsidies, are normally used when job-seeking and follow-up by the Labour and Welfare Service fail to result in a transition to ordinary employment. Such measures are important policy instruments in relation to i.a. the long-term unemployed, young people, immigrants and people with impaired work capacity.