Long-term Residency of Foreigners in Denmark: Percentage Breakdown

Foreign Workers in Denmark: Are They Staying Long-Term?Join the discussion in the comments section below or email us at [email protected]

Wondering if Denmark is keeping talented foreign workers or if they're jumping ship for greener pastures? Let's dive in!

Denmark requires foreign labor to tackle labor shortages across various sectors. But is Denmark hanging onto the workers it attracts or is it facing a brain drain? How does Denmark compare to other countries?

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Having highly-skilled foreign workers stay put makes more sense than repeatedly recruiting new talent from abroad. Thankfully, national data doesn't suggest a widespread exodus of foreigners from Denmark.

Statistics Denmark data reveals that, while the number of people leaving Denmark has risen over the past three years, this increase has been balanced by a similar jump in arrivals. Net migration trends have followed the usual pattern - a dip during the pandemic followed by a rebound afterward.

Historically, more than half of foreign citizens who've settled in Denmark since 2003 have eventually left, typically within three years. This rate is known as the retention rate - the proportion of immigrants who opt to stay in a country over a defined period versus those who leave or return home.

However, it's essential to note that the data used in this article doesn't shed light on the reasons behind each individual's decision to immigrate or depart.

Three-year retention rates in Denmark have fluctuated between 40% and 50% for the last 20 years. After peaking in 2015, the rate dipped for a few years, perhaps as a result of stricter immigration, work-permit, and citizenship rules after the refugee crisis. But the most recent figures hint at an uptick in the proportion of newcomers choosing to stay.

Looking at the one-year retention rate, the percentage of foreign citizens still residing in Denmark has climbed since 2019, reversing a drop between 2015 and 2018.

So, how does Denmark's retention rate compare to that of other countries?

Denmark is far from an outlier in the context of immigrant retention rates.

In a 2024 OECD study comparing the five-year exit rate (the percentage of foreign citizens who left within five years) in 11 European countries, Denmark's rate was comparable to Austria's but lower than Germany's, Italy's, and Spain's. The aptly named five-year exit rate for Denmark, based on immigrants arriving between 2003 and 2018, was higher than those of France, the UK, and Sweden.

Sweden's five-year exit rate, at just over 31%, is roughly half that of Denmark, but this might change as the country's right-wing government tightens immigration policies [2][3].

In summary, Denmark's foreign worker retention rate is middling when compared to other European countries. However, Denmark encounters challenges with retaining skilled workers from prosperous democracies, as data from 2015 to 2024 shows a marked disparity between the retention of foreigners from wealthy and less affluent countries [2]. This indicates that while Denmark draws in numerous skilled professionals, the challenge of retaining them long-term persists [3].

As policymakers grapple with integrating foreign workers effectively, it's crucial to address these retention challenges to make the most of the expertise these skilled individuals bring to Denmark.

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In an attempt to improve the retention of foreign workers, Denmark needs to consider competitive policies that ensure the average skilled worker wishes to stay long-term, much like the steady retention rates observed in countries such as Austria and Italy.
The General News section has reported various political developments that aspire to enhance the overall migrant retention rate, such as potential reforms to Denmark's unemployment system.
The average retention rate of foreign workers in Denmark has become a significant issue in the political arena, with policies increasingly focusing on solutions to improve the average retention period for skilled foreign workers.
Articles related to migration, work, and politicscontinue to emerge, highlighting the average retention rate of foreign workers and its influence on Denmark's long-term labor force and economic stability.
As Denmark strives to maintain a successful economy and competitive labor market, policymakers and the general public both have a shared interest in promoting and supporting policies that ensure the average retention period for foreign skilled workers is high and secure.