Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

WORKING IN NORWAY

Should workers in Norway fear job cuts in the near future?

Companies are expected to cut back on employees amid lower investment and declining earnings, a report from the Norwegian Confederation of Enterprise (NHO) has warned.

Published: 8 March 2023 10:20 CET
Pictured are two workers finalising paperwork.
The NHO has said that one in three firms under its umbrella will consider cutting back on staff in the near future. Pictured are two workers finalising paperwork. Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Norway’s job market over the past two years could be described as relatively healthy, thanks in part to record vacancies and demand for workers in several sectors.

“In Norway, (economic) activity grew at an annual rate of over three percent in the fourth quarter, far above normal cruising speed. At the end of February, only one and a half percent of the workforce was still registered as completely unemployed. The number of unfilled positions has increased further and is now the highest in at least twelve years,” the NHO wrote in a report.

However, the country’s employment outlook took a hit recently, with inflation outgrowing wages last year and a new report indicating that companies across Norway could cut back on staff.

The report from the Norwegian Confederation of Enterprise, published on Tuesday, said that firms expect an economic decline, lower levels of investment and poorer earnings.

“High inflation and increased interest rates will weaken households’ purchasing power and result in lower consumption growth this year. High costs and reduced demand reduce companies’ desire to hire and invest,” Øystein Dørum, chief economist at NHO, said in the report.

The NHO is the largest employer organisation in Norway, representing private-sector firms. It lobbies the government over business interests and negotiations with unions over annual collective bargaining agreements.

Some one in three firms has told the employer organisation that they will downsize in the near future. Furthermore, only one in six companies will increase the number of staff on their books.

Growth in the number of available positions and the number of people in work would also slow following several record years.

Towards the end of March, the NHO will discuss private-sector wage rises with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO).  The NHO expects wages to increase by a decent margin, although a rise in real wages looked marginal, given how inflation estimates for the rest of 2023.

READ MORE: Which industries in Norway have the most vacancies, and what do they pay?

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

MONEY

What the Norwegian krone’s fresh slump means for your finances

The Norwegian krone has slumped significantly against major currencies such as the euro, US dollar and British pound since the beginning of summer. The currency's weakness could have a big impact on your finances.

Published: 25 July 2024 12:04 CEST
What the Norwegian krone's fresh slump means for your finances

Norway’s krone has slumped to a four-year low against the euro, with a euro costing more than 12 kroner for the first time since March 2020 on Thursday.

The krone has weakened significantly compared to the start of the year when a euro traded for 11.22 kroner.

Furthermore, the krone recently hit a 24-year low against the pound. On Thursday morning, a pound was worth 14.30 kroner. At the turn of the year, the pound was trading for around 13 kroner.

A dollar was trading for just over 11 kroner, and the Swedish krone has become more valuable than its Norwegian counterpart since July. The Danish krone has also strengthened against the krone as it is tied to the euro. One Danish krone costs 1.53 Norwegian krone.

What’s behind the weakness?

A falling stock market following disappointing quarterly results for several US firms has been cited as one contributor to the weaker krone.

“(A) stock market crash in the USA and weak development in oil prices have probably contributed to keeping the krone weak,” Kally Chen, analyst at DNB Markets, wrote in a report for the bank on Thursday.

Economists believe that lower-than-expected inflation figures have contributed to a weaker krone.

According to Statistics Norway (SSB), prices in Norway increased by 2.6 percent from June 2023 to June 2024.

Lower inflation may appear to be a good thing for the Norwegian economy, but the markets believe this weakens the Norwegian krone as it may mean that interest rates will be cut in Norway.

When interest rates in Norway are higher than in other countries, the value of the krone is supported. If interest rates are cut earlier in Norway and are more in line with other countries, the krone loses its edge and weakens.

Jan Ludvig Andreassen, chief economist at Eika, an alliance of 77 local Norwegian savings banks, told The Local recently that when it came to the pound, it was a matter of market preferences.

“The markets actually like Starmer & Co. [ The government led by recently elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.]. He will be a voice of reason in a world where that seems to be missing more and more. Our own government seems to inspire little confidence in business circles these days,” the chief economist said.

READ MORE: Why is the British pound surging against the Norwegian krone?

Rory Fennessy, a senior economist at Oxford Economics, told The Local that global factors, the krone’s illiquidity, and interest rates all contributed to its weakening.

What does this mean for your finances?

While inflation in Norway has slowed significantly compared to the peak of 7.5 percent in the autumn of 2022, a weak krone can prevent price increases from moderating even more.

This is because less favourable exchange rates will increase the cost of imported goods, making them more expensive for Norwegian consumers.

One of the biggest questions for homeowners and those with loans will be whether the weakness of the krone will trigger a shock interest rate hike. Since the most recent weakening in mid-July, some economists have warned this may be the case.

“The krone cannot weaken much more until Norges Bank raises the interest rate,” Ole Håkon Eek-Nielsen, a currency analyst at Nordea Markets, told the business and financial site E24.

He added that there was a 60-70 percent interest rates could rise based on the current exchange rate.

READ MORE: Could Norway’s weak krone trigger a shock interest rate hike?

However, rates will remain the same if the krone picks up.

A higher interest rate would make loans and mortgages even more expensive. The key policy rate is currently 4.5 percent, with commercial banks charging more for lending.

The weakening of the krone also makes travel abroad to most countries more expensive.

For foreigners in Norway who still have regular payments to make in other countries, transferring money from the krone to the local currency will be more expensive. Those with student loan repayments, mortgages, or family to support will find the slump particularly difficult.

Still, foreigners with savings in other countries will benefit from the weaker krone if they convert it and use it in Norway. This could reduce their living expenses in Norway – or make big-ticket items better value for money.

Be aware that when you exchange currency, it will be at a lower rate than the market rate. There are also other associated fees and costs.

What’s next for the krone?

Eek-Nielsen told E24 that the krone was most likely to strengthen from its current level. This means that an interest rate hike might be avoided.

Fennesy said that much would depend on the difference between interest rates in Norway and those in other economies.

“With regard to interest rates, Norges Bank will only begin to cut rates once other central banks have already done so, as core inflation in Norway is still running way too high for Norges Bank’s liking due to high wage growth and a large share of imported goods items in core inflation – which a weak krone will exacerbate,” he told The Local.

He predicted a more optimistic outlook for the krone in the latter half of the year.

“We see a more optimistic outlook for the krone in the second half of the year as the Fed (Federal Reserve), ECB (European Central Bank), and BoE (Bank of England) cut rates, while Norges Bank may not cut rates until March 2025 at the earliest. This will help increase the attractiveness of Norwegian investments and allow the currency to appreciate.”

However, if other central banks don’t cut rates, this will negatively affect the Norwegian krone.

Decreased energy price volatility will also act as a stabilising factor for the krone, Fennesy said.

SHOW COMMENTS