Danes tend to be quite humble, but we should proudly proclaim that Copenhagen is an international city on par with Paris.
Our capital’s businesses are teeming with international employees, and in 2023 alone, 20,000 foreign citizens established residency in the Municipality of Copenhagen.
However, to retain even more international workforce, we aim to make it more attractive and supportive for them to come to the city and, importantly, to stay.
Copenhagen Municipality has a clear ambition to attract more qualified external labor, but the challenge is that many internationals only stay in the city for a short period as they do not feel connected to it.
With increasing global competition from cities like Paris, London, and Berlin, it’s crucial that Copenhagen does not rest on its laurels.
Therefore, the Danish Social Liberal Party has allocated several million in the so-called transfer case for 2024 (called the overførselssag in Danish) to various projects that will encourage more people to stay in the city.
Beyond creating great job opportunities, amazing infrastructure, and plenty of culture to retain internationals and encourage them to feel Copenhagen is the best choice for them, how can we further improve?
Better personal guidance
We can do so by engaging them right from the start with personal guidance about job opportunities and municipal services. And that’s where we’re investing our resources. Knowing one’s city, allowing it to grow on one, and exploring its possibilities makes one want to stay and raise a family.
The funds will be allocated to focused personal guidance at International House Copenhagen, with the goal of motivating internationals to view Copenhagen as their permanent home.
The city’s advisors will gain more skills in guiding career programs, job search advice, cultural and leisure activities, housing, daycare, language schools, volunteer work, and more that newcomers to both the city and the country would benefit from knowing.
These personal meetings will be followed by group meetings and events, where internationals can connect over life in a foreign city, all organized by International House Copenhagen.
It’s an important municipal task to guide and meet internationals as soon as they encounter Copenhagen. It’s also a gain for the municipality when newcomers have the best conditions to remain in the city.
Internationals drive development
International Copenhageners are crucial for the development of our city and business life. With more than 62,000 full-time employed internationals and expectations of further increases, the need for a continued focus on attracting international talent is evident.
And we need them if we are to achieve our goals regarding the green, the innovative, and the international. At the Danish Social Liberal Party, we are pleased that we now strengthen the offer of personal guidance and integration-promoting activities with several million, so Copenhagen can continue to develop as a global metropolis.