Jobs in Demand in Denmark in 2023
Are you looking for a job in Denmark? When applying for a job with high demand on the market, the best chances are guaranteed. Unfortunately, foreigners rarely can compete with local candidates; that’s why having the right profession is so crucial.
In-demand jobs in Denmark in 2023:
- Various engineers: civil, mechatronics and electrical engineers
- Software developers and other IT-related jobs
- Life science
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Other medical personell
- Business and finance
- Metalworking and mechanical engineering jobs
- Skilled construction workers
- Transport and logistics
- Hospitality and housekeeping jobs
Denmark is an amazing country to work in, thanks to its high salaries and excellent work-life balance. To get a job in a Danish company, you must possess skills, qualifications, and extensive work experience in the best case.
When looking for a position in an international company, check out jobs in Copenhagen; it’s by far the most international and diverse city in Denmark.
Curious about what your salary will look like in Denmark? Read this article.
Which jobs are in high demand in Denmark?
With a small population of about 6 million, finding a job as a foreigner in Denmark can be challenging. The labor market is pretty small. Yet, Denmark is home to many people with non-Danish passports; many of them are expats.
So, if you plan to get a job in Denmark, it’s always better to look into areas where you will have the best chances of success. At the same time, you should avoid positions with many applicants.
Generally, employment in Denmark requires the applicant to fulfill several conditions, including experience, education, and skill level. The compensation, however, is worth it; check out our guide on Danish salaries.
Before you seek a job in Denmark, read this article on reasons why you shouldn’t move there.
The future profession also should be in high demand with the lack of applicants from the local labor market.
If there is already high competition for the job, foreign nationals most likely won’t even be invited for the interview. Which jobs are on this list – read in the article.
Generally, most jobs with high demand in Denmark are concentrated in these sectors:
- Engineering
- Information and communications technology
- Life science
- Business and finance
- Medicine and healthcare
- Service and hospitality
- Transport and logistics
- Construction
Jobs with an abundance of vacancies but a lack of applicants are:
- civil engineers
- energy and electrical engineers
- medical consultants
- hospital doctors
- nurses
- dentists
- pharmacists
1. Specialised mechanics
Specialized mechanics are in high demand in the Danish job market. For example, there are plenty of jobs for long-haul heavy truck mechanics, train mechanics, drilling equipment mechanics, underground construction, rail, road or bridge construction mechanics, etc.
Danish train mechanics earn between 22,450 and 31,291 DDK per month or 3,100 and 4,300 USD.
2. Engineers
Most engineers are in-demand in Denmark. Local companies struggle to find qualified professionals with work experience.
If you have studied engineering and collected some years of experience, you have a great chance of getting a job in Denmark. Yet, in some engineering areas, you might not be able to get away with just English and need to learn Danish.
Some of the most popular engineering jobs with the demand in Denmark are:
- Biologists
- Mechanical engineers
- Civil engineers
- Environmental engineers
- Chemical engineers
- Designers
The average salary of civil engineers in Denmark is around 59,000 DDK or 8,140 USD per month (2020).
Moreover, most engineers in the Danish labor market also have a wide range of employee benefits such as telephone, company-paid PC, internet, health insurance, fitness, lunch scheme, and even employee shares in the company.
3. Nurses
Nurses are in high demand in Denmark and enjoy great pay. The average monthly salary for nurses in Denmark is 25,154 DDK or 3,470 USD.
Furthermore, the demand for nurses is expected to increase by approx. 19% from 2021 to 2045. But the caveat is that you will need to learn Danish to work this job.
Besides nurses following medicals jobs are in high demand in Denmark:
- doctors
- medical consultants
- chief physicians
- dentists
- clinical dieticians
- occupational therapists
- radiographers
- medical lab technicians
- dental hygienists
4. Teachers
Currently, Denmark needs 6,000 new teachers every year. Moreover, the demand for pedagogues will increase by 12% from 2021 to 2038.
According to official sources, the monthly salary for an average primary school teacher in Denmark ranges from 29,384 to 35,345 DDK or 4,000 to 4,876 USD.
Besides teachers, the following professionals in education are in shortage in the Danish labor market:
- adult education center teachers
- teachers at independent boarding schools for lower secondary school students
- child care workers
- social education workers
- assistant pre-school teachers
Some other in-demand jobs in the Danish labor market include:
- architect
- biochemist
- chief accountant
- civil engineer
- dentist
- doctor
- electronics engineer
- IT project manager
- lawyer
- librarian
- marketing manager
- midwife
- music teacher
- nurse
- pharmacist
- psychologist
- sales manager
- secondary school teacher
- web developer
Leading industries in Denmark
Agriculture, private service sector, industry, building, and construction are among Denmark’s largest and most significant industries.
Labor shortage or positive list in Denmark
Twice per year – 1 January and 1 July the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration released a new “Positive List” for highly educated and skilled workers. Positive List includes professions with workforce shortages within Denmark.
Non-EU/EEA citizens who wish to work in Denmark are eligible to apply for work and residence permits if they have a job offer that matches one of the professions on the Positive List.
Since the demand for such specialists is high, they also have excellent chances of getting a job and all required permits.
That said, the demand fluctuates year after year, so some professions get less popular while others become more. So, for example, there are fewer jobs in pedagogical and primary school education (5% and 3% respectively).
Nonetheless, Denmark expects a shortage of 14,000 educators in the next 10 years.
Another big area with a need for personnel is nursing, where in 2021, there were 8% fewer job applicants than before. To work as a nurse in Denmark, you 100% will need to speak Danish for oblivious reasons.
Jobs in IT are in high demand across the world, and Denmark isn’t an exception. The country expects a shortage of 22,000 IT workers by 2030. Furthermore, in 2021, companies have seen the number of job applicants drop to 6%. Besides, there were 11% fewer applicants in computer science.
Besides typical IT jobs like programmers, IT project managers and leaders are in high demand too.
Engineering of all types is another significant area where Denmark’s companies need more employees. For example, there were 8% fewer civil engineers in 2021.
Several fields of study related to other professions on the Positive List saw interest increase. You might avoid fields where the number of job candidates is rising, such as construction (12%), psychology (8%), law (4%), and medicine (3%).
Consequently, the Danish labor market and companies currently face shortages of job applicants in the education, engineering, IT, medicine, and healthcare sectors.
1. In-demand jobs for people with a university degree
High-demand jobs in Denmark are generally divided into three categories which have different requirements regarding your previous education.
Here are professional areas with a demand for workers with high education, like a university degree:
- Administrative and commercial managers
- Managers in the social field
- Hospitality, retail and other services managers
- Natural Science and engineering
- Healthcare
- Teaching and educational work
- Economics, administration and sales
- Information and communication technology
- Law, social science and culture
- Technician work in science, engineering and shipping and aviation
- Technicians and assistants in healthcare
You can see the full job titles on the official website.
2. In-demand jobs for skilled labor
High-demand jobs that don’t require a university degree but some qualifications:
- Science and engineering associate professionals
- Health professionals
- Business and administration associate professionals
- Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals
- General and secretary clerks
- Numerical and material recording clerks
- Office and Customer Service Clerks
- Personal services workers
- Sales workers (excluding agent workers)
- Personal care workers
- Market-oriented skilled agricultural and nursery workers
- Building and related trades workers (excluding electricians)
- Metal, machinery and related trades workers
- Handicraft and printing workers
- Electrical and electronic trades workers
- Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers
- Operator work at stationary plants and machines
Some jobs from these categories include:
| Field | Job |
|---|---|
| Science and engineering | Building technician, plumbing technician, plumber, operations and production manager, mate |
| Healthcare | Environmental technician |
| Business & administration | Account manager, sales consultant, job and company consultant, local authority case manager, real estate agent, study administrative secretary, medical secretary, managing clerk, office assistant, office clerk, school secretary, trade assistant |
| Services and care | Hairdresser, social and health care assistant |
| Construction | Bricklayer, joiner, carpenter, traveling fitter, plumber fitter |
| Machinery | Metal worker, blacksmith, sheet metal worker, service technician for iron and metal, industrial technician, CNC operator, mechanic |
| Electrical | Electrician, electrical contractor, mechanician |
See all job titles on the official website.
3. In-demand jobs for unskilled labor
There is no shortage of labor for unskilled workers at the moment. In general, Denmark has only a few jobs that don’t require any skills or qualifications.
Where are the best job opportunities for foreigners in Denmark?
Foreigners don’t have it easy when looking for a job in Denmark, but there are some principles to it. Generally, native English speakers have good chances of employment, for example, in the education or tourism industries.
Moreover, it’s easier to get a job as an EU citizen than as a non-EU. Non-EU nationals need to acquire a work and resident permit which has its requirements too. The employer must sponsor a visa by providing a high enough salary and good working conditions.
The best way to get a job in Denmark is to analyze professions that are in demand and see if you can fit them. Otherwise, you can try your chances and start applying for openings on local job boards.
If you are a non-EU national, you should check a Positive list first because jobs on that list will almost 100% guarantee you a work permit in Denmark. This list also includes managerial positions if you are looking for a high-tier job.
Don’t forget to learn Danish if you are planning to live in Denmark long-term. It will definitely help in your career.
To find out about local salaries and the cost of living, check our guide on wages in Denmark.
![What Is A Good Salary in Denmark? [2023]](https://expatrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Webp.net-resizeimage-copy-2-768x512.jpg)