Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English
European Website on Integration
23 April 2021

Denmark: Mapping of integration efforts in municipalities

Title

In Denmark, non-Western immigrants depend significantly more often on social welfare than ethnic Danes and immigrants from Western countries. The women in this group, especially, are far behind Danish women when it comes to being able to self-support. Support for the integration of migrants (mainly language courses and job training) is provided by the country's 98 local municipalities, and they approach this task in different ways and with varying success rates.

VIVE (Danish Centre for Social Science Research) is an independent research and analysis centre operating under the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Housing. It has published a report with an empiric analysis of the efforts to bring non-Western foreigners into the labour market, comparing the 98 municipalities. The report is based on three kinds of data collection: interviews with five qualified key persons, a questionnaire sent out to all municipalities, and an in-depth case study of 58 persons. The report presents the main obstacles and the most effective tools in use.

The report's general conclusion is that internships combined with regular paid hours is an efficient tool for helping non-Western immigrants into employment. However, the least resourceful individuals in this group need combined effort from different angles to succeed, as they are usually facing a number of other problems in addition to being unemployed.

The main challenges are:

  • insufficient Danish language skills;
  • lack of professional skills in regard to the qualifications needed in the labour market;
  • lack of knowledge about the Danish labour market.

Secondary challenges mentioned by the respondents, especially for women under the Integration Law, are:

  • coping with everyday life;
  • lack of motivation to become self-supporting;
  • bad health or problems in coping with health issues;
  • social control.

What works?

  • There is strong evidence of the positive effects of offering salary subsidies in the private sector. There are also indications of a positive effect of offering salary subsidies in the public sector;

  • There is strong evidence that work internships have a positive effect on employment. However, recent Danish research suggests that internships within the first year may affect refugees’ Danish language skills negatively. Research also shows that the organisation of the internship is important. Focusing on specific kinds of businesses may be an efficient way of improving employment among women;

  • There is evidence that language courses have a higher effect on employment in the long term, and not so much in the short term. Language courses leave less time for job searching, but improve the chances of getting a job.

More details can be found in the extensive report, downloadable here (in Danish; 184 pages). Further information can also be secured by contacting Frederik Thuesen via frt@vive.dk.

Mapping of integration efforts in municipalities 2021
English
(3.22 MB - PDF)
Download

Details

Authors
Vibeke Jakobsen, Tine Jeppesen, Helle Bendix Kleif, Line Mehlsen, Frederik Thuesen
Geographic area
Denmark
Original source
Posted by
Michala Clante Bendixen
Country Coordinator

Related content

2025 IMISCOE Spring Conference

The 2025 IMISCOE spring conference will take place on 17 – 19 March 2025 in Krems, Austria, and online. The title / topic of the conference is " The

IOM Global Migration Film Festival

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) and the United Nations Regional
More content