Denmark Faces Skilled Worker Shortages Despite High Productivity

Denmark offers strong job security and shorter working hours for employees. However, two-thirds of local companies face severe skilled-worker shortages.

A report by Copenhagen Economics highlights these national economic figures. Danish employees work about 300 fewer hours per year than Americans. That difference equals roughly 18.5 percent fewer working hours. Yet hourly productivity in Nordics remains 3.1 percent higher than in US.

Finding qualified staff remains a major hurdle for many Danish employers. About 67 percent of Danish companies report skilled worker shortages. That figure matches Finland and reaches 79 percent in Sweden.

Denmark also leads in digital public services across the region. In 2025, 72 percent of residents used online public authority services. Job stability in Denmark also remains higher than in neighboring countries. Only 14 percent of unemployed residents remain out of work long-term.

CPH Post published these economic findings based on the Nordic report.