Danish companies are facing significant challenges in filling thousands of unskilled job positions, particularly in customer service, cleaning, and kitchen assistance, according to a recent analysis by the Danish Employers’ Confederation (DA). This shortage is putting pressure on businesses that are struggling to find enough staff to meet their needs.

The director of Norrlyst Koncernen, Bjarke Just Nielsen, which operates 15 restaurants in Copenhagen, confirms this issue. While many administrative positions are filled by Danes, unskilled roles in his restaurants are primarily taken by foreigners, as Danes often do not apply for these positions. Nielsen believes that societal views on these jobs and the availability of other opportunities contribute to the lack of Danish applicants.

The DA’s analysis, based on data from the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment (STAR), highlights the extent of the problem, with over a third of unsuccessful recruitments being for unskilled positions, particularly cleaning assistants. Erik E. Simonsen, Vice Director at DA, no longer believes that Danes will fill these roles.

The new agreement on foreign labor aims to address this shortage by lowering the salary threshold for foreign workers from outside the EU, potentially allowing more people from countries such as the USA, Great Britain, and Ukraine to take on these roles.

While the government’s initial estimates suggest a modest increase in foreign workers, DA and experts like Torben Tranæs and Torben M. Andersen anticipate a more significant impact, driven by a declining proportion of unskilled Danes and an increasing demand for services that rely on unskilled labor. The need for foreign labor in Denmark is expected to grow in the coming years.