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Danish unemployment at lowest level since 2009: stats

Unemployment in Denmark continues to fall, with latest figures showing the lowest proportion of people out of work for nine years.

Published: 31 July 2018 18:46 CEST
Danish unemployment at lowest level since 2009: stats
File photo: Nils Meilvang/Ritzau Scanpix

Agency Statistics Denmark's numbers showed a decrease in the number of people receiving social welfare support for their income to have decreased by 1,400 in June.

That leaves the total number for the 'net unemployment' measure at 107,300.

“Net unemployment is therefore at its lowest level since 2009, both in terms of the percentage of people unemployed and the number of people in full-time work,” Statisitics Denmark wrote in a press release.

“Until summer 2016, net unemployment was falling, followed by an increase up to July 2017. Since July 2017, there has again been a downward trend,” the statement continued.

According to a different measure, however, unemployment has increased slightly.

Based on spot checks in which people confirm that they are not in employment despite being fit to work, the current number of unemployed is 152,000, up from 148,000 when the number was last recorded in March this year.

Businesses in Denmark have for some time been concerned about a lack of labour, and the Danish Chamber of Commerce (DE) said it was disappointed at the latest employment figures.

“A lack of matching between the skills of jobseekers and the skills required by businesses is part of the explanation,” DE’s labour markets director Peter Halkjær said in a written response to the new employment numbers.

“Nevertheless, it is absurd that business have thousands of unfilled jobs while 107,000 capable jobseekers are without work contracts,” Halkjær added, adding that he supported more stringent demands on unemployed people receiving social welfare support.

The Economic Council of the Labour Movement (ECLM), an economic policy institute and think-tank, said however that businesses should employ more people on the fringes of the labour market and implement more full-time positions.

“Even though the unemployment queue is getting smaller, there are still around 200,000 people in work that want to work more,” ECLM director Lars Andersen wrote.

“If businesses want to increase labour supply then it would be prudent to create more full-time positions, employ more immigrants and refugees and create more internships,” Andersen continued.

“Businesses have for too many years failed to take enough responsibility for the training of future skilled workers,” he said.

READ ALSO: Surprising increase in Denmark unemployment in March

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How much Danish do you need to learn to get a job in Denmark?

Learning a new language like Danish is a process that can take years. So at what level can you test out your new skills and apply for a job in Danish? We spoke to a language teacher to find out.

Published: 8 May 2024 15:38 CEST
How much Danish do you need to learn to get a job in Denmark?

There are many international companies in Denmark where the workplace language is English – opening up opportunities to many nationalities who want to live and work in Denmark. However for some professions, a certain level of Danish is a requirement and for others, working in Danish opens up more doors.

“The level we say you need to get a job is to have passed the Prøve i Dansk 3 (PD3), which is the official exam by the Ministry of Education. It is equivalent to the B2 European Framework level,” Maria-Sophie Schmidt, language consultant at Studieskolen’s private Danish department told The Local.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It uses a six-point scale: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, where C2 is for those who are advanced and fluent in the language. It means employers and educational institutions can easily assess language abilities.

“When you pass Prøve i Dansk 3 and are B2 level, you’re not completely fluent but you can function in Danish and read newspaper articles in Danish. Usually I say B2 level is like a driver’s license we give you on your Danish. So you can drive a car but if you want to be a really good driver, you have to go practice in traffic. So after PD3 and with practice and with help perhaps, you should be able to write an application in Danish and go through an interview,” Schmidt said.

“PD3 will always help you get a job because companies appreciate you have the certificate. There’s a worry for some companies that you aren’t fluent.

“It is also helpful because Danes like to socialise in our workplaces such as at julfrokost (Christmas lunch) or fredagsbar (Friday afternoon drinks) and some are uncomfortable having to change their language to English all the time, maybe because we don’t feel we speak it well enough. So if you come as a foreigner and have a certificate of Prøve i Dansk 3, I think it’s a big advantage,” Schmidt added.

Foreign dentists and doctors need to have passed Prøve i dansk 3, as well as other professional tests before being able to start an evaluation period of working. 

However there are some sectors where passing the Danish language exam isn’t a requirement. Due to current pressure on hospital waiting times in Denmark, nurses outside of the EU are no longer asked to pass Prøve i dansk 3. Instead, they can demonstrate their Danish language ability, in line with the requirements used for nurses from EU and EEA countries. This includes a six-month probation period where Danish communication skills are assessed.

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The construction industry and engineering, as well as hospitality are other sectors where Danish language skills won’t necessarily need to be B2 level or need certification. But whether or not you require the Prøve i Dansk 3 certificate, practicing Danish is the key to gaining confidence in the Danish workplace.

“Sign up for a language course or sign up to a sports club and surround yourself with Danish language. Insist on speaking Danish and if you know anyone speaking native Danish, ask to have a coffee and practice your Danish. If you have kids and meet other parents, speak Danish, or volunteer at somewhere like a nursing home,” Schmidt suggested.

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Language schools offer a Module 6 course, called Studieprøve to get to C1 level. Here you learn to read, write and speak more academic Danish. It is a requirement for those wanting to study in Danish but you don’t need it for a job.

“At Studieskolen we offer Classes after PD3 – a conversation class at B2 and C1 level where you don’t focus on grammar and writing but on speaking relevant topics in society such as what’s going on now, newspaper articles, TV shows and practice speaking to colleagues in small talk and more complicated conversations. PD3 is a driver’s license but you often can’t join a conversation spontaneously or you may lack confidence and vocabulary, so those classes help that.”

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