WORK IN DENMARK: what is worth to know?

The Danes can call their country one of the happiest places to live. Yes, it is indeed a very powerful expression! But don’t be surprised or in doubt - these words really aren’t out of the way. For the second year in a row, Denmark ranks second in the list of happiest countries in global surveys. Not surprisingly, the Danes value trust and community, and go hand in hand to build their welfare state. This country, which can offer its citizens comprehensive health care and even free education, seems to be moving in the right direction. However, what can they be proud of when it comes to the Danish labor market and what is worth knowing before deciding to set up their own corner of happiness in Denmark? For Danes, work-life balance is really important, so working in Denmark is primarily characterized by shorter working hours. Visit any Danish office at 5pm. evening and you will most likely notice that almost all the tables are empty. Although Danes are hardworking workers, they want to work within the official 37-hour working week in Denmark. Additional working hours are not encouraged in Denmark, so most employees are already at 4 p.m. days go out to pick up the kids, start cooking dinner or do other personal chores. And if you decide to visit the Danish office in the last weeks of July, don't be surprised to find a locked door there. The business is usually closed at this time of year because Danes are on holiday and enjoying a short Danish summer. Every employee is legally entitled to five weeks of paid leave a year and the Danes do not shy away from taking advantage of every minute of it. So, they really don’t feel the need to show their dedication to working long hours. Danes value shorter but more efficient work, and this lifestyle is probably one of the reasons for their happy living. Working in Denmark is also known for its flexicurity system, which means that employers can hire and fire workers at their own discretion to adapt to market needs, while at the same time protecting workers with an A-kasse (unemployment insurance fund). The purpose of this organization is to provide short-term assistance to employees if they become unemployed or unable to work due to maternity, adoption leave, illness, or the like. reasons. Thanks to close cooperation between trade unions, employers and the Danish government, working in Denmark provides excellent working conditions and the market is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises. However, Danes can also be proud of large and prosperous companies whose brands are recognized all over the world. Here are some well-known Danish brands established in Lithuania: o Pandora is a Danish jewelery manufacturer and retailer founded in 1982. The luxury brand Pandora is best known for its charming bracelets, designer rings, earrings, necklaces and watches. o Carlsberg, an international Danish brewer, was founded in 1847. The rich consistency of Danish beer is characterized by aromatic citrus notes, which give the beer a stronger depth of taste. o Ecco, a well-known Danish footwear manufacturer and retailer in Lithuania, was founded in 1963. Initially, the company was engaged only in the production of footwear, but later expanded its activities to start manufacturing leather products, accessories and small leather goods. o Lego is also a Danish-based manufacturing company. The company produces Lego brand toys, mainly consisting of interconnected plastic blocks. The Lego Group has also built several theme parks around the world, each called Legoland. In addition, the company operates a number of retail stores. Unfortunately, working in Denmark in such thriving companies can be a challenge for foreigners. What do foreigners need to find employment in the prestigious or other Danish companies listed above? First of all, before you decide to travel to live and work in Denmark, you should consider learning to speak Danish. Danes speak English fluently, but this ability is certainly not considered a major advantage in the Danish job market. Not only large Danish companies but almost all jobs in Denmark require the ability to speak Danish or one of the Scandinavian languages. Even if you are a good enough candidate, Danes will always give preference to Danish-speaking people when choosing potential employees. Therefore, if you cannot speak Danish, you need to think about what other skills you can stand out and what you can offer Danish companies that Danish people cannot offer. Also, if you want to work for a Danish company, don't forget to update your LinkedIn profile. Danes like to use the LinkedIn platform, which is why employers don't shy away from checking candidates' LinkedIn accounts. Thus, when applying to a Danish company's job posting, it is important to take the time not only to write a quality cover letter, but also to create an aesthetic LinkedIn profile with a professional photo and impeccable English. Don’t despair, although finding a job for non-nations in Denmark can be difficult, it is still possible. The ability to accomplish this depends largely on what skills you have. Therefore, before traveling to work in this country, it is especially important to know which specialties are most in demand in Denmark. The Danish labor market is currently short of workers in the following areas: o Education; o Engineering; o IT; o Medical and healthcare. The following specific job positions are among the jobs in demand in Denmark: o Construction, energy and electrical engineers; o Medical consultants; o Doctors; o Dentists; o Pharmacists. Thus, if you have the required qualifications for any of the positions listed above, your chances of finding a job in Denmark are much higher. Before deciding to travel to work in Denmark, it is also clearly important to consider whether the work in Denmark is attractive in terms of pay. There is no official minimum wage in this country. However, according to the 2021 Labor market practice in Denmark The vast majority of the minimum wage in this country was around DKK 110 per hour (approximately EUR 14.78). Thus, the expected minimum wage in Denmark for full-time employment is around DKK 17,000, or around EUR 2,284.06 per month. It is important to note that these salaries are stated before tax. As in most developed countries, the difference between the minimum and average wage is very small in Denmark. According to the global Numbeo database, the average monthly salary in Denmark is DKK 43,487 before tax, in other words around EUR 5,842.75. After deduction of taxes, this salary is reduced by almost half. More specifically, the average monthly salary in Denmark is around € 2,859.10 per hand. However, compared to Lithuanian salaries, work in Denmark is much more profitable. The minimum wage in Lithuania (from 1 January 2022, reaching € 730 per month before tax) is even 3 times lower than the Danish minimum monthly wage. Working in Denmark remains significantly better than working in Lithuania and comparing salaries in specific specialties. (All salaries below are average earnings per month before tax.) o Work in Denmark in the pharmaceutical industry is paid 2.5 times more than in Lithuania. People working in this sector earn EUR 5,214 in Denmark and EUR 2,044 in Lithuania. o People working in the field of electrical and energy engineering earn EUR 4845 in Denmark and EUR 1880 in Lithuania. o People working in the field of medicine and social care earn 4041 EUR in Denmark and 1559 EUR in Lithuania. o The average salary of IT specialists in Denmark is EUR 6378, and in Lithuania it is EUR 3031. o Work in Denmark in the field of construction and real estate is paid 2.6 times more than in Lithuania. People working in this sector earn EUR 4924 in Denmark and EUR 1866 in Lithuania. o Specialists working in the field of education and research earn an average of EUR 4205 in Denmark and EUR 1485 in Lithuania. It is clear that Denmark can be proud of its truly generous salaries. However, it is particularly important to mention that working in Denmark is also costly. Based on the 2021 According to surveys, Denmark has one of the highest income tax rates, ie y. 55.9%. Only a few countries in the world outperform Denmark in terms of taxes. However, thanks to these high fees, Denmark can be proud of the free education and comprehensive health care mentioned above. In conclusion, we want to tell you about what to visit while working in Denmark. Here are some locations in Denmark that are rated by Denmark: o To escape the hustle and bustle of life and surround yourself with beautiful nature, Danes travel to coastal towns and their beaches. For such a peaceful holiday, Denmark can offer 40 km of Blåvand beach, which is also considered the best location for amber! o Danes are also proud to give the country’s tourists a unique opportunity to see up close how the Vikings built their ships and how they are being restored these days. The Danish Viking Ship Museum also provides its visitors with a wealth of useful information about the Viking Age and the key role that marine life played in human culture at the time. o Not to mention the adornment of countless photos and postcards of the city, the Danish port of Nyhavn, which is loved by both Danish and domestic tourists. This is a great place to take a walk and visit the nearby cafés in Copenhagen. This place is a real tourist attraction and surprises visitors with its multicolored houses and impressive, tall boats on the waterfront. If you are fascinated by Denmark and its working conditions, remember that all possibilities are in your hands. The best time to leave is when you have a lot of desire and determination. However, do not rush and make the decision to live and work abroad only after thinking carefully.