The last two years TV 2 has followed a large group of peopler who were dismissed or laid off as a result of corona measures.
For many, unemployment led to financial problems and a lot of worry.
– It was simply awful. Suddenly they were only told that there was no job to go to. The income was affected and you could not plan anything, says Lolita Vingre.
Two years after the country closed down and many lost their jobs overnight, the vast majority are in TV 2’s survey back to work. It has had a great impact on both finances and mental health.
– The best thing is the stability. It is so important to have an everyday life with routines so you can feel useful, says Vingre.
– BACK: Vingre loves his job at Tax Free and is happy to be back at work. Photo: Magnus Nøkland / TV 2
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– Great feeling
After being unemployed for almost a year and a half, Vingre finally got the phone she had dreamed of.
– It was an absolutely fantastic feeling to be told that I could come back permanently. At the same time, it was a bit bittersweet because I was with colleagues who were not recalled, because they had shorter seniority, says Vingre.
Now that she is back at work at Tax Free at Oslo Airport, she no longer has to worry about finances. Many of those who have watched TV 2 in the last two years experience the same.
Facts about the survey
In the period 8 – 16 April 2020, TV 2 Nyheten asked people who had been financially affected by the corona pandemic to answer a survey.
The sample was recruited through a web form distributed via TV 2’s website and social media. All respondents were identified by Bank ID or other electronic ID.
A total of 2126 people stated that they had been laid off, dismissed or had lost more than 50 percent of their income.
The same people have since been asked to answer questions from TV 2 four times, in August 2020, in February and August 2021, and in February 2022.
The last answers were obtained in the period 17 February – 2 March 2022. 1138 have answered, which constitutes a response rate of 54.
All data is processed anonymously. TV 2 collaborates with the University of Oslo on a secure solution for collecting and storing sensitive data.
TV 2’s sample consists of 60.7 per cent women and 39.3 per cent men. There is thus a larger proportion of women in TV 2’s sample than in NAV’s labor market statistics.
Most people in the sample state that they have worked in the industries service professions and other work (27%), shop and sales work (21%) and tourism and transport (16%).
Compared with NAV’s labor market statistics, Oslo is underrepresented in the sample. TV 2’s questionnaire is only distributed in Norwegian. Thus, there is reason to believe that people with a minority background are underrepresented.
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In April 2020, 59 percent answered that they were worried about their financial future. 32 percent thought it was likely that they would not be able to pay bills in the next three months.
Now only 22 percent answer that they are worried about the financial future while 18 percent fear that they can not pay bills.
Planning a wedding
The pandemic meant that Vingre and his cohabitant put all plans on hold.
– I had a dream and a plan to have children and family. But that dream has been shattered. After the corona crisis hit us, stability is gone, Vingre said to TV 2 autumn 2020.
Now the couple again dares to think about the future.
– WORKING TOGETHER: The cohabiting couple work together at Tax Free and believe the relationship has become even stronger during the pandemic. Photo: Magnus Nøkland / TV 2
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– We are planning a wedding in full, and we take it as it comes. Now we are much safer, says Vingre.
– Having children was something we had in mind before, but which we had to put completely on hold. Now it is possible to think about it again, says cohabitant Erland Slettmoen.
At the same time, Vinge notices that she is a little more nervous about the future than she was before the pandemic.
– It still feels a bit like I have a kind of post-traumatic stress syndrome. I have more stress in my body and am very afraid that this may happen again. At the same time, it is good to feel that we at least in working life have that stability now, says Vingre.
– Extraordinary situation
Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre is pleased to hear that many see a brighter future.
– Now things are going well in large parts of Norwegian business, and we are happy about that, says Vestre.
– UNPREDICTABILITY: Vestre emphasizes that things are going well in the business world, even though there is some unpredictability. Photo: Ida Cecilie Madsen
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At the same time, he understands that uncertainty can cause concern.
– It is an extraordinary situation in the world with high energy prices and quite a lot of unpredictability. We are following the situation closely, and I can understand if someone is a little worried about what is happening around us, says Vestre.
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