Why do foreign workers leave Denmark?
We’ve recently covered the statistical side of the drain of foreign nationals working in Denmark.
Official figures, both national and from Copenhagen in isolation, suggest that a significant number of people who come to Denmark to work leave within the first few years.
Denmark is also capable of attracting many people to the country to work, as the data attests, but it’s reasonable to say that holding on to more of them would be positive for the country, given an overall labour shortage in many sectors.
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We had the chance this week to hear the views of Copenhagen officials and the capital’s talent attraction agency, Copenhagen Capacity, on the reasons behind foreign nationals leaving, as well as testimonies given by some of the foreign workers themselves.
Not feeling included at work, struggling to find Danish friends, and failing to get a job were the three main reasons for expats to cut short a planned stay in Denmark, according to the new Expat Survey carried out by Copenhagen Capacity.
Only 7.7 percent of respondents told the survey that they had decided to cut short their stay in Denmark, but for them the social aspects, particularly a lack of feeling included in the workplace, was the biggest problem.
"Diversity is something you can measure: How many internationals? What is the gender balance and so on, but inclusion is something coming from the inside, the subjective feeling of, 'do I really feel part of the club here?'" Dan Rosenberg, Head of Talent Attraction at Copenhagen Capacity, said at a press conference announcing the results.
Other high-ranking reasons for wanting to leave early were not being able to find a job and finding it hard to get Danish friends.
"Danish culture is non-inclusive. You never get to be a part of the Danish clan," one respondent complained in the survey. "Inclusion is only in power point presentations. There is no support."
'If I could feel more included and the Danes were more open and social, I would consider it," another respondent said according to Rosenberg.
In a debate after the presentation, Jens Kristian Lütken, Copenhagen's Mayor of Employment and Integration, said big employers should find a way of reminding employees to speak English more of the time at work.
"Even though everyone speaks English here, we switch very fast into Danish. I think that's the case in many workplaces," he said. "So I think we have maybe to think about that if we want to include more people in our workplaces."
Mia Nygaard, Culture & Leisure Mayor for Copenhagen, argued that even though inclusion was partly the responsibility of employers, foreign employees themselves also needed to make an effort.
"We, ourselves [the foreigners] also have a responsibility to want to be in a country and to think 'it's maybe also me who has to go out and invite these co-workers home if they forget to invite me a couple of times." she said.
It’s well worth keeping in mind that the people who were disappointed by their experience in Denmark were outnumbered by those who had found life in the country better than expected, and who stayed for as long or longer than they had originally planned.
The ‘closing law’ and how it could change
Denmark had a public holiday this week, with Ascension day celebrated on Thursday and many people therefore having the day off.
People in emergency and other essential services aside, one group of workers who did still have to clock in were those who work at smaller supermarkets.
Denmark’s slightly unusual laws on public holiday closing allow certain stores to open on holidays like Ascension Day. Most supermarkets are open on Sundays, which marks Denmark out from other nearby countries – notably Germany and Norway – where Sunday opening is still far more restricted.
It may seem a bit confusing if you’re not familiar with Danish practices, given that one supermarket – or one particular chain – might be closed on a public holiday while another one across the road might be open.
The laws which regulate store opening – known as the Lukkeloven in Danish – define who can and can’t open based on size, turnover and, to a certain extent, location.
They are set for “modernisation”, the government announced this week, although it doesn’t look like this will take the form of a simplification.
A potential lack of access to essentials in rural areas is in focus in the move announced by the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs.
The modernisation will mean “more trade, more jobs and a boost to local tourism,” giving more flexibility for shops in smaller-sized towns to open on public holidays, the ministry said in a statement.
Specifically, shops in the centre of towns with populations under 16,850 will be permitted to open on public holidays or lukkedage.
All local authorities will also be given broader ability to keep shops open on public holidays if an event is taking place, the ministry said.
Keeping the local “clothes shop, paint store or grocer” open is crucial for local communities, Bødskov said Business Minister Morten Bødskov said, so it won’t just be supermarkets that get the green light to operate on days like Ascension Day.
The changes are expected to take effect after the next election, with Denmark next due to hold parliament elections in 2026.
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