Denmark remains among leading countries for knowledge jobs

But according to the 2023 Geography of Europe’s Brain Business Jobs Index, growth in eastern Europe poses a particular challenge

Denmark and its capital Copenhagen have long been among the top countries in Europe when it comes to knowledge-intensive jobs – for example, employment in tech, information and communications, advanced services, and creative professions.

And indeed, the European Centre for Entrepreneurship and Policy Reform (ECEPR) once again ranks both countries comfortably in the top 10 on its Geography of Europe’s Brain Business Jobs Index.

Denmark ranked sixth overall behind Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, Copenhagen was seventh in the regional ranking behind Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, Stockholm, Oberbayern (Munich) and Paris.

READ ALSO: Copenhagen has world’s best work-life balance, according to Forbes study

Grinding to a halt?
But clouds could be gathering ahead.

Denmark is one of just three countries (Iceland and Greece are the others) that saw negative growth compared to 2014. 

According to the report, the Danes need to implement policy and reduce costs to maintain their position at the forefront of knowledge nations.

“The challenge for Denmark is to compete for brain business jobs at a time when much of the growth is happening in the capital regions of Eastern European countries, which combine talent supply with low costs for employing the talents,” the report found.

Denmark’s strengths lie in pharmaceuticals, publishing, and film/TV/music, according to the report, while it lags somewhat in advertising & market research, telecommunications, and IT services. 

Check out the entire report here (in English).





  • How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    Being part of a trade union is a long-established norm for Danes. But many internationals do not join unions – instead enduring workers’ rights violations. Find out how joining a union could benefit you, and how to go about it.

  • Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals are overrepresented in the lowest-paid fields of agriculture, transport, cleaning, hotels and restaurants, and construction – industries that classically lack collective agreements. A new analysis from the Workers’ Union’s Business Council suggests that internationals rarely join trade unions – but if they did, it would generate better industry standards.

  • Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    The numbers are especially striking amongst the 3,477 business and economics students polled, of whom 31 percent elected Novo Nordisk as their favorite, compared with 20 percent last year.