Ethnic monitoring – possibilities and limitations in a Norwegian context Conference “Tools for Equality” at Antirasistisk senter, 13/ Kristian Rose Tronstad, researcher, Fafo – Institute for Labour and Social Research

Ethnic monitoring – possibilities and limitations in a Norwegian context  What is the problem?  The Norwegian labour market and participation of immigrants.  Ethnic discrimination?  Ethnic monitoring and need for ethnic data  Ethnic monitoring in Norway  Limitations and possibilities in a Norwegian context 2

Employment by age and gender, 4Q Source: Statistics Norway

Employment by reason for immigration and duration of stay 4 Source: Statistics Norway

Attitudes toward participation in labour market Can mothers of children below the age of 3 work? 5 Source: Kavli & Nadem 2009

Norwegian labour market  Norway has the highest employment rate and lowest unemployment rate in OECD.  High participation of both men and women  Immigrants in Norway have lower employment rate and higher unemployment rate than natives.  Gender-gap, reason for immigration, duration of residence, language, country of origin and discrimination?  How much of the difference in labour market participation (or earnings) between immigrants and native born can be explained by discrimination? 6

Methods for assessing ethnic discrimiation?  Experimental design (situation testing)  Statistical analyses of survey data or register data (outcome differences)  Attitudinal indicators of discrimination (perceived discrimination)  Administrative data (complaints)  Ethnic monitoring  No single method or single data source can fully capture the nature and extent of ethnic discrimination Source: Blank et al. (ed.) (2004) Measuring Racial discrimination. Panel on Methods for Assessing Discrimination. National Research Council of the National Academies. Washingon, D.C. 7

What is ethnic monitoring?  “Ethnic monitoring” is the process you use to collect, store, and analyse data about people’s ethnic backgrounds.  In employment, monitoring lets you examine the ethnic make-up of your workforce and compare this with the data you are using as a benchmark.  You can use ethnic monitoring to:  highlight possible inequalities;  evaluate and remove unfairness or disadvantage. Source : Ethnic monitoring – A guide for public authorithies. Equality and Human Rights Commission 8

Ethnic monitoring in Norway  Norway - a comprehensive register society  Population register and social statistics.  Central Population Register  Good data on immigrants’ demography and living conditions  ”Ethnic identity” is not self declared, but immigrant bakground and country of birth can be used as a fairly good proxy.  Data on enterprises and etablishments.  National Register of Business Enterprises in Brønnøysund 9

Ethnic monitoring – some challenges  Need for information vs. right to privacy  Need for information vs. administrative burden on enterprises.  Self declared ethnic identity vs. country of origin as proxy (right to self determination?)  Enforcement and sanctions? 10 Animation: Karine Haaland