The business community in Lolland Municipality can thank non-western immigration for keeping local companies’ production running. With a 2.4 percentage point lead, Lolland ranks at the top of a list of municipalities where non-western men have overtaken ethnic Danish men in wage employment.
This trend is not just an isolated development in Lolland but part of a broader national movement. A total of eight municipalities, including Lolland, Morsø, Rebild, and Vordingborg, are experiencing a similar shift in the labor market. This is shown by a new analysis from SMVdanmark. It is the first time in Danish history that non-western immigrant men have surpassed Danish men in employment statistics in so many municipalities.
Immigrants secure employment
The significant employment growth among non-western immigrants is particularly important for peripheral municipalities such as Lolland, Guldborgsund, and Vordingborg. Here, foreign labor has not only contributed to filling vacant positions but has also been crucial in maintaining the overall employment level in these municipalities. Without this workforce, Lolland could have faced a significant decline in employment, which would have had serious economic consequences.
– Without non-western immigration, many municipalities would have experienced a much larger decline in employment. Today, it is a crucial prerequisite for growth and development in local communities outside the major cities, says Thomas Gress, Senior Economist at SMVdanmark.
Necessary step for businesses
For businesses in Lolland Municipality, the increasing proportion of non-western men in employment is a positive development. Local companies have long been seeking qualified labor, and this new workforce is a valuable resource. The construction of the Fehmarn Belt link has also increased the demand for more hands, and many non-western workers have found employment in this project as well.
It is crucial for both Lolland and other peripheral municipalities to retain non-western workers in the labor market, whether in the construction industry or other sectors where the workforce is already under pressure.
Foreign labor is the solution
The analysis from SMVdanmark suggests that the development of non-western labor could be a model for addressing future labor market challenges. Danish society is facing an aging population and an increasing demand for labor, especially in peripheral areas. Lolland Municipality is a strong example that foreign labor can be part of the solution.
