The Danish economy is in excellent shape, so finding work in Denmark should not be difficult if you have the right skills. In 2021, there were 200,000 vacancies in the private sector, which is 40,000 more than the year before. The unemployment rate is now close to falling below the pre-Covid 19 level.
Searching for jobs in Denmark
The chances of finding a job in Denmark depend on your qualifications.
– If you do not have qualifications/skills and do not know Danish language, it will be difficult. If you only know English, you may find work as a cleaner, some jobs in manufacturing and transportation/logistics, and the usual jobs in agriculture or hospitality.
-If you have no qualifications/skills but speak the language, you will have access to many jobs.
-If you are a highly skilled worker but do not speak the language, it can be relatively easy to find work in the country’s major cities, but more difficult outside the major urban centers.
-If you have qualifications/skills and also speak Danish, the biggest challenge is to submit your CV, the rest will follow by itself.
As in most countries in the world, it is much easier to find a job in Denmark if you have reccomendation (job referrals). Looking for a job through friends and acquaintances is a very common practice.
Most in-demand jobs in Denmark
- Skilled workers and specialists (truck mechanics, train mechanics, bridge builders, etc.)
- Engineers in all fields (chemical, electrical, mechanical, renewable energy, etc.)
- IT, IT Specialists
- Health, (doctors, nurses, etc.)
Denmark is a small nation, and all foreigners must compete for jobs with Danes who have an advantage because they know the Danish language, culture and society. So why should the employer hire a foreigner when he can hire a native Dane?
The answer is simple: he will only hire you if the employee is not available on Danish soil. With this in mind, the Danish government publishes a list of shortage occupations twice a year.
On January 1, 2022, the Labor Market and Recruitment Agency (STAR) published a new “positive list” for people with higher education and for skilled work
Provides a list of occupations where there is a shortage of labour in Denmark. Non-EU citizens can also obtain a work and residence permit if they receive a job offer from a Danish employer. This means that if you are a specialist whose profession is on this list, you will probably have no problems. If you are a good mechanical engineer, then you have good chances. If you are a doctor with a lot of experience, there will be no problems, and so on for all the professions on the list.
Danish labour model
The Danish labor market model is known for its ability to meet the needs of employers and ensure the welfare of employees. This means that employers can easily hire and fire, but workers enjoy a number of protections. In addition, wage levels are regulated by collective bargaining agreements.
The model is based on some basic elements:
Employers can hire and fire workers very easily.
Workers who pay into the unemployment fund receive unemployment benefits for up to two years.
Institutions offer retraining programs and counseling for the unemployed to help them find a job as quickly as possible.
The Danish state pays a subsistence allowance to people who are unable to support themselves due to illness, divorce or unemployment.
Denmark has one of the most competitive salary levels in the EU.
Denmark has the lowest employer costs in the EU. Employer contributions to social security, pension and health insurance are lower in Denmark than in other European countries.
The Danes are one of the most productive and hardworking workforces in Europe, largely due to the Danish mentality and work culture. Employees enjoy a high degree of autonomy and personal responsibility at work, which makes them highly motivated and conscientious employees with high job satisfaction.
Employees are constantly trained to meet the new demands of the labor market, so the workforce is always up to date with the latest technology.
Excellent language skills. Almost nine out of ten Danes speak English and one in two speaks German. Danes often rank first in surveys of language skills.
Flexible work. Unlike many other European countries, Denmark has no restrictions on night and weekend work, which means companies can operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Seraching for jobs in Denmark, conclusion
In summary, we can draw these conclusions:
- The chances of finding a job near Copenhagen are higher
- If you do not know where to look, I recommend you take a look at the bars and restaurants that are always looking for staff
- Be prepared to accept any kind of work, at least in the beginning
- Drop your resume everywhere in person and also apply online, and you will see that sooner or later you will find something
- If you really can not find anything, you should know that jobs in agriculture are always in high demand. The work is not very well paid and the farms and greenhouses are quite remote. But it is one of the easiest ways to find work
If you want all the information on how to work in Denmark I suggest you read the article: Working in Denmark
