Denmark has seen a significant increase in the employment rate among non-Western immigrants and descendants, though disparities persist, particularly for women from Muslim countries. Data from CEPOS (Center for Political Studies) reveals that while the employment rate for this group has risen substantially since 2015, it still lags behind that of native Danes.

In 2023, the employment rate for non-Western immigrants and descendants reached 64.7 percent, a 15.8 percentage point increase from 48.9 percent in 2015. This positive shift is attributed to a growing number of immigrants arriving in Denmark for work.

Ukrainians have significantly contributed to the increased employment rate, with a rate of 67.5 percent among the nearly 50,000 residents of Ukrainian origin.

Syrians have also shown remarkable progress in labor market attachment. The employment rate for Syrians has surged from 11.6 percent in 2015 to 56.2 percent in 2023. This improvement is particularly noteworthy given the large proportion of newly arrived refugees in the Syrian group.

Despite these gains, challenges remain. Significant differences exist among various immigrant groups. For instance, the employment rate for Indians stands at 74.4 percent, while for Lebanese it is 45.4 percent.

Women from Muslim countries, especially Syria and Lebanon, have notably lower employment rates. The employment rate for Syrian women is 39.3 percent, and for Lebanese women, it is 37.3 percent, compared to 78.4 percent for women of Danish origin.