– It is a big topic at school. I myself think that I will move. It’s fun to experience something new, says 16-year-old Viktor Hlynur. But what can be fun for Viktor, becomes a tragedy for Finnmark. He is needed – more than ever. Viktor is a student at Alta upper secondary school, Finnmark’s largest school with just under 900 students from the entire county. But now the number of students is in free fall across the board. Since 2017, the number of pupils in Finnmark has decreased from 2,500 to 2,000. Towards 2030, projections show that a further 500 will be lost. – It is dramatic, says Terje Larsen, general manager at the Vocational Training Office in Finnmark. Terje Larsen is general manager at the vocational training office in Finnmark. He is concerned that the number of pupils in Finnmark is falling and that it is not possible to recruit enough apprentices. Photo: Hanne Larsen / news Becoming a raw material supplier The consequences are that the companies in Finnmark do not get hold of the professionals they need. Just as an example, Larsen says that the restaurant industry requires 36 apprentice chefs. – While the schools manage to deliver maybe 18, he says. He believes central authorities must wake up before Finnmark ends up as a pure raw material supplier of oil and gas, fish and minerals. Larsen points out that the authorities are constantly talking about how important it is that people live near the border with Russia. – But it will mostly be nice words on paper, says Larsen. Population development in Finnmark At the end of 2021, there were 241,736 inhabitants in Troms and Finnmark. This was a decrease of 432 inhabitants from 2020. For Finnmark, in 2021 only Alta had population growth. In total, Finnmark had an inland migration of 710. Immigration was positive in about half of the municipalities, and a total of 146 residents immigrated to Finnmark last year. It is therefore the domestic emigration and the birth deficits in many municipalities that have caused the population to decrease for all the municipalities in Finnmark in the last year, with the exception of Alta. Positive immigration has not been sufficient to counteract this effect. Finnmark had a total birth surplus in 2021 of 5 (739 births and 734 deaths). The two municipalities that had more births than deaths last year were Alta (138) and Sør-Varanger (8), other municipalities had a net decrease. In 2022, a total of 565 children were born at the maternity wards in Finnmark. That is 88 fewer than the previous year. Source: Statsforvalteren.no – The “Northern Norwegian paradox” Professor of political science at UiT Norway’s Arctic University, Kjell Arne Røvik, points out that Finnmark and Northern Norway have had a strong economic upswing in the last 12-15 years. This is due to clone dyke conditions in export industries such as oil and gas, seafood and mineral extraction. At the same time, the population has decreased. – We call it the “Northern Norwegian paradox”, says Røvik. Professor of political science at Norway’s Arctic University, Kjell Arne Røvik, believes that Northern Norway is in a special situation. Photo: Jørn Inge Johansen / news – This is special. Before, the message was: If you create jobs, you will get housing. But this connection is not at all that strong anymore. Far from. Today, it is increasingly common to live in one place and work in a completely different place, says Røvik. The professor says that it takes a lot to get people to move: Good leisure facilities, a job for the partner, networks and the opportunity to get quickly and affordably between north and south. And financial benefits. – There are a set of variables that are needed, but the most important thing is that you have a high awareness of the fact that the demographics are miserable and that you have to do something about it, he says. Having fewer children The birth rates are a good indicator that the finnmarkings are not able to keep the population up on their own. In 2022, a total of 565 children were born at the maternity wards in Finnmark. That is 88 fewer than the previous year. – There are simply too few women of childbearing age, says Røvik. It simply means that many local communities in Finnmark are slowly but surely dying out. – That is why it is extra important that we take care of the young people we have, says the professor. – We have a bad time Storting representative Marianne Sivertsen Næss (Ap) agrees. She is afraid that Finnmark will end up as a commuter county. – The situation is serious and we are short on time, says Sivertsen Næss, who is from the oil and gas town of Hammerfest. Marianne Sivertsen Næss from Hammerfest is concerned that the county will become a place where resources are extracted, while people commute in and out. Photo: Allan Klo / news She says that the government is trying to reverse the trend. This through measures such as free kindergarten and further write-downs of student loans for those who choose to work in Nord-Troms and Finnmark after completing their education. From the beginning, you already have an exemption from employer’s tax in the region. – I think that the Svalbard tax in parts of Finnmark is something that should be considered, says Terje Larsen. He is not alone in this wish. Lower flight prices Vista Analysis has evaluated the effect of the measures in the action zone. Here they suggested that it could be beneficial to expand the areas for the so-called Svalbard treasure. This means that you pay less personal tax than normal. Whether it should be called Svalbard tax or something else is not that important, says Storting representative Marianne Sivertsen Næss. She will strengthen the economic benefits for people and businesses in the north. – In addition, we must get approval to develop critical infrastructure and secure lower flight prices, says Sivertsen Næss. More for school Terje Larsen believes the government should increase subsidies for secondary education in Finnmark. – With today’s grant, I fear that more and more lines, and eventually entire schools, will be closed down. This will certainly not have a positive effect on population growth. Odin Olsen Erke and Viktor Hlynur dream of moving after they finish Alta upper secondary school. Photo: Hanne Larsen / news 16-year-olds Viktor Hlynur and Odin Olsen Erke believe that a good study offer at the university in Alta is important so that young people do not move away from Finnmark. – If they don’t have the studies you are interested in, you will look elsewhere, says Viktor. He does not rule out that he will return to Finnmark, if he chooses to move away. – You may think differently when you get older. There is something about having friends and networks somewhere, he says. – Did you know that you can write off your student loan if you work in Finnmark after completing your education? – No, but it sounded like a clever trick, says Viktor. – Do you think the weather plays any role in people wanting to move? – Definitely, says Odin. – Yes, sometimes I wonder: Why do I live here, really, says Viktor.
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High value creation does not help the settlement – Finnmark is being emptied of people – news Troms and Finnmark
