08.04.2022 - Labor market, welfare and society

An increasing number of young people receive disability benefits in Norway. Ragnhild Haugli Bråten and Susanna Sten-Gahmberg have published a paper about potential drivers in the Norwegian Journal of Working Life Studies.

They show that the increase is driven by young people who are diagnosed with severe congenital diseases or anxiety, depression or behavioral disorders. The groups’ educational outcomes and labor force participation have declined over time. They conclude that the increase in young disability benefit recipients cannot only be explained by a more demanding labor market, but must also be attributed to other factors in their childhood and adolescence. The full paper can be downloaded here.