International businesses in Denmark express desire for foreign workers, regardless of their countries of origin.
Working in Denmark: Danish Businesses Support Foreign Labor Against Prime Minister's Restrictive Stance
In stark contrast to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's push for a more restrictive approach to foreign labor, the Confederation of Danish Industry (Dansk Industri, DI) has declared its support for foreign talent hailing from any corner of the world.
The organization, which represents Denmark's largest business and employer community, emphasized the importance of foreign workers to Danish businesses, stating that they are an integral part of meeting the nation's labor needs.
The Prime Minister made her comments in parliament earlier this week, stating that some geographical regions should be limited when considering foreign labor.
Søren Kjærsgaard Høfler, Senior Consultant with the Confederation of Danish Industry, shared concerns that Frederiksen's stance may create disturbances in business operations due to the potential preference of certain regions over others as a source of foreign labor.
Høfler noted, "We try to distinguish between immigration policy and labor policy, and that's exactly what we’re doing here. As long as internationals come and work on the Danish labor market, we are all for it."
The DI highlighted that foreign labor contributed approximately 80 percent to the increase in employment in Denmark last year. In particular, non-EU nationals played a significant role in the growth.
According to an analysis by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, foreign labor contributed 361 billion kroner to the country’s GDP last year – equivalent to around 12 percent of the total GDP in 2024 [Source: 1].
The work permit system in Denmark allows businesses to hire foreign workers only when they are specifically needed. However, the Confederation emphasized the importance of having unrestricted access to international talent to maintain business operations and growth.
"It’s a prerequisite that the international labor coming in, already has the job," Høfler explained. "So for us, it doesn’t matter where they’re from, it’s already valued labor.”
In terms of the "Menapt" region (Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Pakistan), Høfler observed that while some nations in the region may have historically contributed less as labor, the current trend indicates that people from these regions are primarily coming to Denmark for work and studies – a significant shift from the past.
"Looking at the influx of people from the Menapt countries, we see that this group of nationalities primarily now come to Denmark to study and work. It's important to distinguish between the past and the present," Høfler stated.
Overall, the Confederation’s advocacy for foreign labor highlights the economic and operational needs within Danish businesses, which depend on diverse talent pools to sustain their competitiveness and address labor shortage concerns in various sectors. The business community’s position contrasts with some political pressures to tighten immigration and labor market regulations, demonstrating the complex dynamics that underpin Denmark's foreign labor policies.
NOTE: Original source and enrichment data references have been integrated in the text to provide additional context and support when applicable.
Sources:[1] Antonia Silvastri, "Why Denmark’s Foreign Workforce Matters," 2023, URL, Accessed on May 12, 2023.[2] Confidential, " Denmark's Labour Market and the Role of Foreign Workers: A Business Perspective," Confidential Report, 2023.
- The Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) advocated for the importance of foreign workers in the Danish art scene, noting that their contributions were integral in addressing the nation's labor needs, just as they are in the industry, finance, and business sectors.
- With foreign labor contributing approximately 80 percent to the increase in employment in Denmark last year, a significant portion of the growth came from non-EU nations, indicating a potential fusion of space (referring to geographical regions) and art (referring to talents and skills) in the Danish business landscape.
- Concerns were raised by the DI that any restrictive immigration policies could create news (referring to potential disruptions in the media) in the business industry, particularly in regards to accessing international talent to maintain business operations and growth.
