Denmark in need of foreign labour

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Denmark in need of foreign labour
Michael Jerking The Danish Society of
Engineers The 28th of November, 2007
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Programme

• Part 1
• General introduction to Denmark
• Why Danish companies are in need of workers
• Part 2
• The Danish labour market
• Where and how to find jobs
• Practical information
• Questions

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Small is Beautiful

• Size 43.100 km2
• 5.4 million citizens
• Close to nature, culture and city life
• Currency 1 7.45 DKK
• Agricultural export
• Design, fashion and architecture
• Windmill industry
• Biotech

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Why are Danish companies in need of foreign
workers?

• - the challenges of the labour market

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Why care about labour force?
Fewer to support more
Inside
Outside
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Labour shortages
Private firms are asked if they within the latest
year have experienced problems finding sufficient
labour
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The current situation
Unoccupied vacancies and unemployment among
engineers
Unsuccesfull recruitments 1. kvt 2006 47.000
positions 1. kvt 2007 58.000 positions
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Unemployment is historical low in DK
Harmonized unemployment seasonally adjusted
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Open door policy?

• Danish policy on foreign workers
• EU and Nordic citizens are free to work in
  Denmark
• Eastern European citizens need work permits (no
  shortage required)
• Third country citizens need work permits (labour
  shortage required)
• But, no quotas
• New green card scheme adopted

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Recruiting foreign labour force
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Good experience with foreign labour
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Why work in Denmark ?
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Why Expats love Denmark

• Happiest population
• High quality of life
• Clean
• Green
• Safe
• Social security
• Everyone speaks English
• Plenty of spare time

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The Danish Labour Market

• 37 hrs./week
• Holidays min. 5 weeks per year
• 9 public holidays
• High salaries - 4000 BT (Entry level)
• Low unemployment rate app. 3
• Equal opportunities
• High employment rate

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The Danish Labour Market The Flexicurity Model

• High mobility / turn over in the labour market
• High level of security
• Strong labour organisation on both sides of the
  industry
• High level of unionisation (80 pct)
• Long tradition for collective bargaining since
  1899
• High regulation by collective agreements - few by
  law

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Working Culture

• Informal atmosphere
• Flat hierarchy responsibility is delegated
• Team work
• Professional development rewarding
• Working language - English or Danish
• Effectiveness and efficiency
• Wide use of technology
• Social events and activities

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Participation in Continuing Education
Per cent of employed, 2006
NOTE Covers non-formal job-related continuing
education and training over the previous 12
months. SOURCE OECD (2006).
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Job Satisfaction
Per cent of employed, 2006
NOTE The figures show the rate of employed who
are satisfied or very satisfied with their
occupation. SOURCE EFILWC (2007).
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Salaries

• Relatively high salaries
• Collective agreements
• Private negotiation and employment contract
• Be well aware of what the contract contains

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Taxation

• Min. 39 on a salary of approx. 27.000
• Progressive income tax system. Max. 60
• 25 tax scheme for key employees and researchers
• VAT 25
• Danes are happy to pay taxes value for money
• Danes prefer welfare to tax reductions

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Expenses
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Unmet Labour Demand

• Engineers
• Health sector Medical doctors
• Physicists, biophysicists
• Chemists
• Pharmacists

• Economists
• Accountants
• Auditors
• Mathematicians
• Statisticians
• IT

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Job Search

• www.workimport.dk (Info and jobs)
• www.workindenmark.dk (Info and jobs)
• www.jobsincopenhagen.dk (Info and jobs)
• www.jobfinder.dk (Jobs for Engineers and IT
  specialists)
• Company websites

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CV and Cover Letter

• CV Emphasis on experience
• Cover letter Brief (1-2 pages)
• An answer to the advertisement.
• The value you bring to the company
• Application by e-mail
• Interview preparation is everything
• Check company website
• Speculative / unsolicited application

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Information and Advice

• EURES in Italy
• EURES Denmark, Specialist Unit, eures_at_eures.dk
• Danish Society of Engineers, www.ida.dk

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Main reasons to work in Denmark

• 1. Plenty of well paid, developing and
  challenging jobs
• 2. High salaries and short working days
• 3. Work with advanced technologies
• 4. Safe and well functioning society
• 5. High quality of life

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why seasonal work in Denmark?

• working together with people from many different
  countries
• earn good money

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May August ? piecework, hard work!
June August ? piecework
August November ? pr. hour
September December ? piecework
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Before you apply

• transition period for members of the new
  EU-countries
• need working permit,
• but not if the employer offers a contract with
  payment according to tariffs
• working- and residence permit expires when your
  contract ends
• you as well as the employer will have to fill in
  special application forms
• employer will help you with the papers

www.nyidanmark.dk
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How to apply

• only 1 way to be registered
• online on www.seasonalwork.dk
• we contact you when we have a job for you
• we send your CV to the employer
• employer calls you for the details when, where,
  etc

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www.seasonalwork.dk
www.seasonalwork.dk
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remember your id.number !!
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wages/conditions

• strawberries piecework about 0,80/kilo
  (depending on several factors)
• below average loose job?!
• apples, pears, cherries and similar fruit
  piecework basis or by the hour
• working hours about 37 pr. week (weather!) -
  mostly 6 day week for strawberrypicking, starting
  at 5 pm
• camp site with cooking, bathing, and toilet
  facilities

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from 011008 make your cv on www.workindenmark.dk
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until 011008 www.workimport.dk
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Good jobpossibilities

• Building carpenters, plumbers, electricians
• Metal cnc, carmechanics
• Healthcare nurses, doctors
• Service cooks, waiters, bakers, sales personel

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Velkommen i Danmark
Jan Vleugel javle_at_slagelse.dk
tlf. 45 2482 6009