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Knowledge is power

Finnmark wishes to be an attractive and competitive region, but many challenges remain. With the help of the gender statistics provided by KUN, it is easier to identify where the shoe pinches.

In our northernmost county there is currently a strong focus on work on gender equality and diversity, and the authorities endeavor to create a vibrant and exciting society in which both men and women in all age groups and phases of life find their place.

There are many challenges. Women and young people from rural areas move to towns and cities for education and careers, affecting the age- and gender structure of the districts.

On behalf of Finnmark county, KUN prepared comprehensive statistics on gender equality and diversity in the county. The statistics will provide a tool for planning and developing the Finnmark community.

Some of the findings are:

• Dropout rates in high school are much higher in Finnmark compared to rest of the country. Only 52 per cent of the pupils complete high school in five years or less. The dropouts are mostly boys, and many of these are youths who have to move away from home in order to go to high school.
• The average wage gap between women and men is smaller in Finnmark than in the rest of the country. This is mostly due to the fact that men in Finnmark earn less than men in other counties. In addition there are more men working part time than in the rest of the country.
• The immigrant population in Finnmark constitutes seven per cent of the total population. Immigrant women in the county participate in professional life to a larger degree than Norwegian women in Finnmark. This might indicate that these immigrant women have not met the obstacles to integration into working life that are often discussed in other parts of Norway.

“The County wishes to facilitate positive development. The gender equality statistics provide a good vantage point for developing new strategies and measures to ensure diversity and equality”. (Målfrid Baik, business manager of Finnmark County).

Publisert: 03.10.11 14:45
Sist oppdatert: 05.10.11 14:25