Number of non-Western immigrants taking early retirement exploding

Some 100,000 are reported to be on full-time benefits

The number of non-Western immigrants on early retirement benefits (førtidspension) has increased by 39 percent since 2008, according to an analysis by LG Insight.

The analysis showed that pension payments to immigrants have increased by nearly 2 billion kroner since 2010 as the number of non-Western immigrants in the country exploded during the financial crisis.

Last year, 100,000 immigrants were on full-time government benefits of some sort.

"The analysis shows an increasing predominance of immigrants from non-Western countries on public assistance since 2008,” LG consultant Lars Larsen told the newsletter Mandag Morgen. 

Larsen said that people are no longer taking unemployment benefits while they look for work, opting instead to leave the workforce altogether.

Too many not working
Since 2008, the number of non-Western immigrants and their descendants outside of the labour force has increased by 39,600 – an increase of 43 percent. 

While most have ended up on social assistance, disability or unemployment benefits, there has been an increase of 39 percent in the number of non-Western immigrants opting for early retirement. 

READ MORE: Immigrants sending billions back home

The economy minister, Morten Østergaard, said that rules for early retirement may need to be tightened.

“There are too few immigrants working,” Østergaard told TV2 News. “We need to require everyone to contribute what they can.”

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