Labour market information: Denmark

Danish employment initiatives and the public employment service are based in 94 municipal job centres. Since 1 January 2015, the country has also been divided into three regional labour market offices [arbejdsmarkedskontorer – AMK]: AMK Central North [AMK Midt-Nord], AMK South [AMK Syd] and AMK East [AMK Øst]. All job centres can provide help and guidance to citizens from the EU/EEA. This also includes providing information on which services the public employment service – Workindenmark – can offer foreign jobseekers and Danish companies.

Workindenmark

Workindenmark supplements the efforts of the job centres. Workindenmark helps foreign jobseekers, among others, to find employment in Denmark. This applies to both foreigners already in Denmark and those applying from their own countries. Workindenmark helps Danish companies that need to find highly qualified employees outside Denmark. Workindenmark consists of the home page www.workindenmark.dk and a service centre in Odense.

Workindenmark.dk is Denmark’s official portal for international recruitment. The portal contains a labour exchange, together with all relevant information for Danish employers and foreign workers (both before and after arrival in Denmark) in English.

International Citizen Service

The International Citizen Service (ICS) is the Danish authorities’ one-stop shop for persons entering the country. At the ICS, foreign jobseekers and their families can receive help with paperwork, for example, when submitting an application for and receiving an EU residence document, CPR number, health insurance card and tax card, etc. For further information, please see: lifeindenmark.borger.dk

Lifeindenmark.dk provides all relevant information on moving to and living and working in Denmark for foreign citizens moving to Denmark.

The supply of Danish labour to other EU/EEA countries is mainly carried out by Workindenmark and EURES advisers in designated job centres. For further information, please see info.jobnet.dk/eures/om-jobsoegning-i-udlandet/

Due to COVID-19, large parts of the Danish society were shut down during 2020 and 2021. The lockdowns have led to a decrease in employment and an increase in unemployment. The final restrictions were lifted on 31 January 2022, since when the labour market has gradually improved.

In February 2023, 2.98 million people were employed, which means that last year, employment increased by 2 %. In Denmark, this is the largest number of people employed ever.

According to Eurostat, the unemployment rate in Denmark in 2022 was 4.5 %. This is a decrease of 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous year. The Danish unemployment rate is significantly lower than the average European unemployment rate of 6.2 % in 2022, according to Eurostat.

Denmark has a population of 5.9 million inhabitants and the labour force is approximately 3.0 million. The country is a service and knowledge society. Approximately two thirds of the labour force are employed in the private sector. About 2 % of the labour force is employed in agriculture. Denmark has an advanced, tax-financed welfare system. This means that approximately a third of the labour force is employed in the public sector.

Denmark is characterised by a large number of small and medium-sized companies, and the country has increased its competitiveness in recent years. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitive Report 2021, Denmark is the third most competitive country in the world.

Well-known companies include names such as Maersk (shipping and oil production), ARLA (dairy products), Novo Nordisk (pharmaceuticals), Brandtex (clothing), Bang & Olufsen (radio/TV), Danfoss (air conditioning and heating), Grundfos (pumps), Velux (windows), Lego (toys) and Vestas (one of the world’s largest wind turbine producers).

Links:

Denmark has a labour shortage in several sectors. This labour shortage is particularly present among various skilled jobs and highly qualified individuals in the private sector, such as engineers, IT specialists, biotech/pharmacy and the financial sector, as well as doctors and nurses. There are further significant labour shortages in the industrial, construction and hospitality sectors.

Although COVID-19 had an impact on employment, the labour market has more than recovered since then.

In the period between May 2022 and April 2023 (both months included), 348 585 posts were advertised on Jobnet, the Danish public labour exchange. Compared to the same period the previous year, this represents a decrease of 14 %.

The occupational groups with the highest numbers of new vacancies advertised during the period are:

• Health and social care
• Academic employment
• Sales and marketing
• Transport, postal and machinery work

Finding job titles with good working opportunities depends on which region of Denmark one settles in.

According to Eurostat, the unemployment rate in Denmark in 2022 was 4.5 %, compared to 5.1 % in 2021. This is the lowest unemployment level since June 2008, just before the financial crisis. Since autumn 2021, the decline has been slowed down. However, according to Statistics Denmark, unemployment in June 2023 is still at a very low level.

Unemployment is generally largely dependent on the level of education and seniority of people in the labour market. Unemployment is highest among people with very little or no training. In addition, unemployment is high among young people without education and young recent graduates who have not had their first job.

At a national level, 83 691 people were registered unemployed in June 2023. This is a decrease of 23 348 since June 2022.

Given the low unemployment and high labour shortages, no sector has a significant number of unemployed.

The four sectors with the highest numbers of newly registered unemployed were:

• Travel agencies, cleaning and other operational services
• Trade
• Health and social care
• Hotels and restaurants

East Denmark includes the Capital Region, including Bornholm and the Zealand Region.

The Capital Region has a population of 1 950 000 inhabitants. The labour force is approximately 1 000 000 people.

In the Capital Region, there are 791 000 full-time employees. Approximately 14 % of the full-time employees in the Capital Region commute into the region, mainly from the Zealand Region.

The Capital Region is characterised by a relatively high number of employees in public administration, education and health, trade, knowledge services and information and communication.

Today, 71 % of those employed are skilled workers or have a higher education, compared to 68 % 10 years ago. 29 % have no training leading to qualifications.

Links:

In 2022, 141 000 posts were advertised on Jobnet in the Capital Region, the Danish public labour exchange. Compared to 2021, this represents an increase of 3 %.

The occupational groups with the highest numbers of new vacancies in the Capital Region advertised during the period are:

• Healthcare, social care and personal care
• Graduate occupations
• Educational, social and ecclesiastical work
• Sales, purchasing and marketing

In 2022, a job turnover of 340 000 people was registered in the Capital Region. The sectors with the highest job turnover are public administration, trade, cleaning, and the hospitality sector.

The latest register-based unemployment rate in the Capital Region as of 1 July 2023 is 3.0 %. This represents an increase of 0.3 % compared to the number as of 1 July 2022.

In July 2023, 29 146 people were registered unemployed (seasonally adjusted).

The unemployed are primarily seeking employment in the following occupational groups:

• Graduate occupations
• Sales, purchasing and marketing
• Media, culture, tourism, sports and entertainment
• Management

East Denmark includes the Capital Region, Bornholm and the Zealand Region. The Zealand Region has a population of 851 000 inhabitants. The labour force is 405 000 people.

In the Zealand Region, there are 329 000 full-time employees. Approximately 20 % of the full-time employees in the Zealand Region commute out of the region, mainly to the Capital Region.

The Zealand Region is characterised by a relatively high number of employees in trade, building and construction, education and transport.

Today, 69 % of those employed are skilled workers or have a higher education, compared to 67 % 10 years ago. 31 % have no training leading to qualifications.

Links:

In 2022, 47 500 jobs were advertised at Jobnet in the Zealand Region, the Danish public labour exchange. Compared to 2021, this represents an increase of 2 %.

The occupational groups with the highest numbers of new vacancies in the Zealand Region advertised during the period are:

• Healthcare, social care and personal care
• Educational, social and ecclesiastical work
• Graduate occupations
• Building and construction

In 2022, a job turnover of 125 000 people was recorded in the Zealand Region. The sectors with the highest job turnover are public administration, education and health, trade, and building and construction.

The latest register-based unemployment rate in the Zealand Region as of 1 July 2023 is 2.4 %. This represents an increase of 0.1 % compared to the number as of 1 July 2022.

In July 2023, 10 531 people were registered unemployed (seasonally adjusted).

The unemployed are primarily seeking employment in the following occupational groups:

• Trade
• Transport and warehouse
• Cleaning
• Educational work

Geographically, South Denmark covers the island of Funen plus South Jutland, from the border with Germany up to and including the municipalities of Vejle, Billund and Varde. The largest town in South Denmark is Odense on Funen. Other large towns are Esbjerg, Vejle, Kolding, Fredericia, Sønderborg, Svendborg, Middelfart, Aabenraa and Haderslev.

The Region of Southern Denmark has a population of 1 238 043 inhabitants. The labour force is 627 340 people, broken down between the Funen region with a labour force of 251 700 and the South Jutland region of 375 640 people. In the Region of Southern Denmark, there are 615 260 people employed. The Region of Southern Denmark is characterised by a relatively high number of jobs in social institutions, health care, industry, trade, building/construction, transport, and the hospitality sector. In addition, the companies LEGO, Danfoss, ECCO, Ørsted Wind Power are central to the region’s business community.

Today, 69 % of those employed are skilled workers or have a higher education, compared to 67 % 10 years ago. 30 % have no training leading to qualifications.

The Region of Southern Denmark is a border region with a border with Germany and uses a relatively large amount of foreign labour, including commuting of employees across the border.

Links:

In the annual period between mid-2022 and mid-2023, 80 880 posts were advertised on Jobnet, the Danish public labour exchange. Compared to the previous period, this represents a decrease of 12 %.

The occupational groups with the highest numbers of new vacancies in the Region of Southern Denmark advertised during the period are:

• Healthcare, social care and personal care
• Iron, metal and automotive
• Graduate occupations
• Educational, social and ecclesiastical work
• Building and construction
• Transport, post, warehouse and machine operator work
• Sales, purchasing and marketing

The latest register-based unemployment in the Region of Southern Denmark from July 2023 is 2.6 %.

As of July 2023, there were 15 582 registered unemployed in the Region of Southern Denmark. This represents an increase of 14.6 % compared to the number the previous year as of July 2022.

Thus, 1 995 more people were registered as unemployed in the intervening period.

The occupational groups with the highest numbers of registered unemployed in April 2023 (unemployed with job targets directed at the occupational group) were:

• Transport, post, warehouse and machine operator work
• Sales, purchasing and marketing
• Industrial production
• Cleaning, property services and refuse collection
• Educational, social and ecclesiastical work
• Graduate occupations

The North Jutland Region has a population of 594 634 inhabitants, of which 375 699 are of working age (16-66 years old). Of the working-age population, 88 221 are outside the labour force, which consequently consists of 287 478 persons employed and registered unemployed.

Many workers commute between municipalities within the North Jutland Region, in the same way that they commute between the North Jutland Region and the other Danish regions. 6 794 more people commute out of the North Jutland Region than into it.

In the North Jutland Region, there are 221 605 full-time employees. The North Jutland Region is characterised by a relatively large number of jobs in the sectors of public administration, education and health, industry, trade, building and construction, as well as in travel agencies, cleaning and other operational services. 75 % of those employed in the North Jutland Region work in one of the five sectors mentioned. The North Jutland Region, which operates the healthcare system, and the Northern Jutland municipalities are among the largest employers.

In addition, the companies Siemens Gamesa, Danpo, Fårup Sommerland, Idealcombi, KMD, Telenor and Spar Nord Bank are central to the region’s business community.

Today, 71.3 % of those employed (16-66 years old) are skilled workers or have a higher education, compared to 68.9 % 10 years ago. 28.7 % have no training leading to qualifications.

8.8 % of the employees in North Jutland possess a nationality other than Danish.

Links:

In the period between August 2022 and July 2023, companies in Northern Jutland posted 31 733 job vacancies on Jobnet, the Danish public labour exchange. Compared to the period August 2021 to July 2022, this represents a decrease of 5.5 %.

The occupational groups with the highest numbers of new vacancies in the North Jutland Region advertised during the period are:

• Healthcare, social care and personal care (4 941)
• Educational, social and ecclesiastical work (3 565)
• Academic work (2 300)
• Building and construction (2 116)
• Cleaning, property services and refuse collection (2 098)

The latest register-based unemployment in the North Jutland Region from July 2023 is 3.1 %.

As of July 2023, there were 8 848 registered unemployed (full-time) in the North Jutland Region. This represents an increase of 5.3 % compared to the number in July 2022.

In the period between week 35 in 2022 and week 35 in 2023, 49 751 newly registered unemployed people were registered.

The business sectors with the highest numbers of newly registered unemployed persons during the period were:

• Industry
• Travel agencies, cleaning and other operational services
• Health and social care
• Building and construction
• Trade
• Hotels and restaurants

The Central Jutland Region has a population of 1 340 569 inhabitants, of which 866 008 are of working age (16-66 years old). Of the working-age population, 191 855 are outside the labour force, which consequently consists of 674 153 persons employed and registered unemployed.

Many workers commute between municipalities within the Central Jutland Region, in the same way that they commute between the Central Jutland Region and the other Danish regions.

In the Central Jutland Region, there are 536 745 full-time employees. The Central Jutland Region is characterised by a relatively high number of jobs in the sectors of public administration, education and health, trade, industry, building and construction and knowledge services. 75 % of those employed in the Central Jutland Region work in one of the five sectors mentioned. The Central Jutland Region, which operates the healthcare system, and the Central Jutland municipalities are among the largest employers. In addition, the companies Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, Arla Foods, Danish Crown, Grundfos, Kamstrup and Bestseller are central to the region’s business community.

Today, 71.5 % of those employed (16-66 years old) are skilled workers or have a higher education, compared to 69.5 % 10 years ago. 28.5 % have no training leading to qualifications.

9.8 % of the employees in Central Jutland possess a nationality other than Danish.

Links:

In the period between August 2022 and July 2023, companies in Central Jutland posted 68 121 job vacancies on Jobnet, the Danish public labour exchange. Compared to the period August 2021 to July 2022, this represents a decrease of 24 %.

The occupational groups with the highest numbers of new vacancies in the Central Jutland Region advertised during the period are:

• Healthcare, social care and personal care (10 105)
• Educational, social and ecclesiastical work (7 414)
• Academic work (6 177)
• Transport, post, warehouse and machine operator work (4 814)
• Building and construction (4 571)

The latest register-based unemployment in the Central Jutland Region from July 2023 is 2.7 %.

As of July 2023, there were 18 440 registered unemployed in the Central Jutland Region. This represents an increase of 13 % compared to the number as of July 2022.

In the period between week 35 in 2022 and week 35 in 2023, 97 167 newly registered unemployed people were registered.

The business sectors with the highest numbers of newly registered unemployed persons during the period were:

• Health and social care
• Travel agencies, cleaning and other operational services
• Industry
• Trade
• Building and construction
• Education
• Hotels and restaurants