UNEMPLOYMENT
Statistics on unemployment are based on monthly reports from municipal labour market departments in various towns where the unemployed are assigned work or granted unemployment benefits.
The unemployment in the settlements is not calculated because of a lack of systematic reporting; the settlements do not, therefore, figure in the unemployment statistics.
The very few unemployed persons born outside Greenland are not included in the statistics either.
Unemployment in 2009
In Greenland, two unemployment measures are in use, 'medio unemployment' and 'affected by unemployment'.
'Medio unemployment' is the proportion of unemployed persons having been unemployed for both the first and last half of a given month. This unemployment figure is an approximate expression of the average unemployment.
'Affected by unemployment' measures how many persons who during one month at least once have contacted the municipal labour market department and registered as unemployed. This figure is not an expression of the average unemployment as some of these persons are assigned or find work after having registered.
Comparability Problems
In connection with the start-up of Piareersarfiit, several municipalities began, including the Municipality of Nuuk, in early 2008 to transfer long-term unemployed to the social services department, primarily in order to better deal with the real job-seekers. The unemployment figures for 2008 and the following years are, as a consequence, not comparable with figures for previous years.
On 1 January 2009, 18 municipalities were fused into four large municpalities: Qaasuitsup Kommunia includes the former municipalities of Kangaatsiaq, Aasiaat, Qasigiannguit, Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq, Uummannaq, Upernavik, and Qanaaq. Qeqqata Kommunia includes the former municipalities of Maniitsoq and Sisimiut, whereas Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq includes the former municipalities of Ivittuut, Paamiut, Nuuk, Tasiilaq, and Illoqqortoormiut. Kommune Kujalleq includes the former municipalities of Nanortalik, Narsaq, and Qaqortoq.
The age limit for the retirement pension increased from 60 years of age in the period up to 2001 to 61 years in 2001, to 62 years in 2002, to 63 years in the years 2003-2008, and to 64 years in 2009. In 2010 the age limit increases to 65 years. As a consequence of these changes, the age interval for the unemployed has risen from 15 to 59 years up until 2001 to 15 to 60 years in 2001, to 15 to 61 years in 2002, to 15 to 62 years in the years 2003-2008, to 15 to 63 years in 2009, and to 15 to 64 years in 2010.
Figure 1
Average 'Medio Unemployment' and 'Affected by Unemployment' by Year
Note: The retirement pension age limit has changed throughout the years from 60 years of age in 1998 to 64 years of age in 2009.
Source: Statistics Greenland
Figure 2
'Medio Unemployment' and 'Affected by Unemployment' in 2008 by Month
Source: Statistics Greenland
Overview 1
'Affected by Unemployment' per Month by Gender and Age in 2008
Source: Statistics Greenland