One out of every 10 Norwegian workers is off on disability leave, according to new figures from state welfare agency NAV. A total of 311,200 persons were receiving disability payments at the end of March.
That’s up by 8,800 persons from the same time last year, and amounts to an increase of 2.9 percent. The total number of Norwegians on disability has increased by 16,000 over the past 10 years, reported newspaper Dagsavisen.
The highest percentage of persons on disability were women aged 60-67 and the most growth was also among women, according to NAV. There also was an increase in the number of young workers, aged 18-29, filing disability claims.
Politicians called the trend “worrisome.”, with Anette Trettebergstuen, a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party said the increase among young workers “was very serious.” Most claimed psychological ailments as the reason for their inability to work.
Views and News staff
