All of Denmark, and especially Region Zealand, is hungry for qualified labor, and available hands are almost impossible to find. The situation is somewhat better on the other side of the Fehmarn Belt as the German unemployment rate rises.
No surplus in Schleswig-Holstein
However, workers from Schleswig-Holstein will not solve the staffing problem for companies in Region Zealand. At least not if you ask Claus Ruhe Madsen, the Minister of Business, Transport, and Tourism in Schleswig-Holstein:
– Even though unemployment in cyclical industries like commerce and construction is rising slightly in Schleswig-Holstein, we cannot speak of a surplus of workers in Schleswig-Holstein in the medium and long term, says Claus Ruhe Madsen, elaborating:
– The lack of skilled and unskilled labor not only affects Lolland-Falster and South Zealand but also us here in Schleswig-Holstein. Our projection for 2035 shows that in Schleswig-Holstein, we face a shortage of workers across all industries and sectors, in some cases already now, and this will become even clearer in the future. This also includes the hospitality sector, where one in four employees work between Lübeck and Fehmarn, he says.
Higher wages alone are not enough
The higher wages in Denmark will also not suffice to attract labor from Schleswig-Holstein:
– Of course, attractive living and working conditions on both sides of the border are always an incentive to seize opportunities in the neighboring country. This applies to both those already employed and the unemployed. However, it’s also a personal decision that involves certain barriers, such as learning the language, says Claus Ruhe Madsen.
Unemployment due to immigration
The Minister of Business and Transport also points out that the rise in German unemployment is not necessarily linked to economic conditions:
– For now, the rise in unemployment rates is primarily due to the large influx from EU and third countries, and labor market partners promote integration into the local job market through various instruments, concludes Claus Ruhe Madsen.
