Companies can’t cope without foreigners, industrial advocates claim

Confederation of Danish Industry stresses the necessity for an international workforce

Sep 30, 2014

At its annual conference, which took place today, the industrial advocate group Dansk Industri (DI) has stressed the importance of having an international workforce to the country’s business community.

According to DI, almost half of their member companies employ workers from abroad, and foreigners currently fill 123,000 full-time positions.

Karsten Dybvad, the head of DI, said in a press release that access to foreign employees is crucial for the economy. “If companies don’t have the possibility of hiring foreigners, we risk major orders, growth and prosperity slipping between our fingers,” he said.

Difficult to fill vacancies
Unemployment is at its lowest since 2006 and DI predicts that it will fall even more in the coming years. The organisation reports that among some trade groups – such as blacksmiths, welders and toolmakers – unemployment is so low that it’s difficult to fill vacant positions.

“Even today, our companies need more talented employees, but if the recovery that we see ahead of us finally takes hold, we’re going to be facing a serious staff shortage. We need everyone who can contribute: both Danes and more foreigners,” Dybvad said.

“We suggest that the income threshold for getting a work permit is reduced from 375,000 to 325,000 kroner per year so that we can secure the professional competences that we lack domestically.”

The DI annual conference was attended by 1,200 CEOs and politicians, including the prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, and the leader of Venstre, Lars Løkke Rasmussen.