23.11.2023 -
Today, more than 3,300 international employees work on Lolland-Falster. This is 2,200 more than 10 years ago, according to a new analysis from the Confederation of Danish Industry.
10 years ago, international employees made up just 4% of the workforce in Lolland Municipality. Today, the figure is 15%. In Guldborgsund Municipality, the figure has increased from 4% to 8%.
In total, there are 2,200 foreign employees in the region.
One third of the international workforce comes from Poland, which is by far the largest national group.
In the construction and civil engineering sectors on Lolland-Falster, more than one in three employees is foreign. In comparison, it is one in four in the service sector, agricultural sector and hotel and catering industry.
The figures are according to a new analysis from the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), which maps the proportion of international employees in Denmark’s 98 municipalities by industry and nationality.
International employees are badly needed
"It is fortunate that we have been able to attract so many international employees to Lolland-Falster in recent years, especially in Lolland Municipality. They are badly needed, as unemployment in Denmark is historically low and companies are crying out for more employees," says Jakob Søndergaard Nielsen, Chairman of the Board of DI Lolland-Falster, and continues:
"The construction of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link has of course created a high demand for employees in the building and construction industry in this area, where there is a need for special competences. Therefore, we also hope that several newly relocated employees on the project will settle permanently on Lolland-Falster."
International primary school
In both Lolland and Guldborgsund municipalities, the increase in employment figures is solely due to the increased foreign workforce in the area.
"International employees contributed with DKK 262 billion to Danish society in 2022. And we will continue to have a great need for this workforce in the future. Therefore, I am very pleased that Lolland Municipality were visionary in establishing the first international primary school in Denmark. It can, quite simply, be a decisive factor for whether international employees accept jobs here," says Jakob Søndergaard Nielsen and adds:
"We need to work hard on attracting even more foreigners to come and work here. The municipalities of Lolland-Falster can help companies by ensuring a simple process when an employee has found a job in the area and by ensuring a good welcome for the whole family."
Doubled up nationwide
The international workforce in Denmark has doubled over the past 10 years, from 140,000 foreign employees in 2012 to 290,000 in 2022. The increase continued into 2023, where several months ago the figure reached 300,000 international employees.