Denmark is projected to face a significant labor shortage in the coming years, with estimates suggesting a need for 90,000 full-time employees by 2030. This shortage is attributed to factors such as a declining birth rate, where the number of children born per woman is insufficient to maintain the current population level.

The Danish government is actively exploring solutions to address this impending crisis. One potential avenue involves attracting international labor to fill the gap in the workforce. However, discussions surrounding this solution have been complicated by what Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen describes as a “harsh tone” in the immigration debate.

Rasmussen expressed concern that the debate has become overly focused on issues such as numbers, origin, and religion, potentially hindering efforts to attract much-needed international workers. He emphasized that Denmark is in direct competition with other Western nations to secure international labor.

The government is currently engaged in internal negotiations to develop a comprehensive proposal to address the labor shortage. Reportedly, an agreement has been reached to designate 16 countries from which companies can more easily recruit workers. The government aims to act proactively to mitigate the effects of the labor shortage before it becomes unmanageable.