Economy
Denmark has one of the highest standards of living in the world. The Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. The World Bank (2013) ranked Denmark’s nearly US$315 billion gross domestic product (GDP) thirty-third out of 190 countries studied. The Legatum Institute ranked Denmark’s economy twenty-third out of 142 countries on its Economy Sub-Index (2013).
The Danish modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector; renowned firms in pharmaceuticals, such as Novo Nordisk; the popular line of construction toys, LEGO; maritime shipping; renewable energy; and, a high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark’s principal exports, which totaled nearly US$106 billion in 2012, are industrial machinery and instruments, food, energy and pharmaceuticals. The principal imports, which were almost US$97 billion in 2012, are raw materials, chemicals and food. Denmark’s major export partners are Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands and the United States. The U.S., which is Denmark’s largest non-European trading partner, accounts for about 7 percent of total Danish merchandise trade.
Even though the Danish economy was hit hard by the global downturn in 2008, the economy gained strength in 2013. The Government presented a growth and job stimulus package that proposed a series of initiatives to make it noticeably more attractive to invest in Denmark and generate more jobs. The annual GDP growth rate is 0.3 percent, unemployment 7 percent and Denmark’s inflation rate is just 0.7 percent.
Finding a Job
One of Denmark’s main challenges is the qualified professionals shortage in the Danish labor market in both the short and the long run. For this reason, there has been an emphasis on recruitment of Danes and foreign workers for industry sectors with qualified professionals labor shortages. The major industries in Denmark are sustainable energy, shipping and manufacturing. If you are new to Denmark and do not speak Danish, it is more difficult to find a job, although English is widely spoken, especially by the younger generation.
The Official Website of Denmark offers more information about Danish language lessons at various levels. Some courses are available for free if you have a CPR number, the Danish Personal Identification Number, which is received upon registration with the Civil Registration System, either by birth or by moving to the country, or a work contract. English-speakers have more opportunities to find jobs in the tourism sector or within multinational companies located in Denmark, like Dell, Microsoft, Nokia and IBM.
You can find the top workplaces in Denmark at the Best Workplaces in Denmark website.
The best cities to work in Denmark are Copenhagen, which is the financial center of the country; Aarhus, where the largest industrial harbor in Northern Europe is located; Odense, home of the GASA Group, the largest supplier of Danish vegetables; Aalborg, which is an industrial and commercial center that exports grain, cement and fish; and, Esbjerg, a seaport on the west coast of Denmark. Be sure to check job listings in the local newspapers and Craigslist for individual cities. Be sure to send unsolicited applications to targeted employers and contact temporary work or staffing agencies online or onsite. Most importantly, check out local online forums and bulletin boards in the area you have chosen. Locals can be a great source of opportunities.
To get you started, here is a list of websites that may help you in your job search:
Eures Denmark