Navigation

Newsletter

Subscribe to the latest news from the Nordic Labour Journal by e-mail. The newsletter is issued 9 times a year. Subscription is free of charge.

(Required)
You are here: Home i News i News 2017 i Native language disappearing from Icelandic workplaces

Native language disappearing from Icelandic workplaces

Iceland is experiencing enormous growth. Every year thousands of foreigners arrive to help Icelanders in the labour market. Tourism represents the largest area of growth, followed by the construction industry. The English language is increasingly being used within both trades. Many Icelanders are worried about the Icelandic language’s position in the multicultural society.
Up one level

This folder has no visible items. To add content, press the add button, or paste content from another location.

Document Actions

A lack of construction workers

Benedikt Hilmarsson with one of the few Icelandic construction workers he has managed to employ, Ívar Örn Þráinsson (above)

Facts
  • Just under 200,000 people are active in the Icelandic labour market.Around 11 percent are foreign.
  • Foreign labour has grown by four percent since last year.
  • The tourism sector employs 30,500 people. The number has grown by eight percent in one year. Never before have so many people worked in the Icelandic tourism industry.
  • The construction industry has seen the largest growth over the past year.
  • 14 percent more people now work in the construction industry compared to last year.
  • Just over 13,000 people work in the construction industry.
  • In August 2017 unemployment was at 1.9 percent.
The number of foreigners in the Icelandic labour market
YearNumber
2007 16395
2008 18167
2009 16590
2010 15193
2011 14627
2012 14521
2013 15366
2014 16372
2015 18008
2016 20605
2017

24409* 

*June 2017.

Newsletter

Receive Nordic Labour Journal's newsletter nine times a year. It's free.

(Required)
h
This is themeComment