When the fixed link between Denmark and Germany is completed, a new report estimates that over 23,000 new workers may find their way to Lolland and Falster.
There has been much talk about the potential of the Fehmarn connection. The 18-kilometer-long tunnel will not only change the map of Europe. It will also pave the way for 23,500 potential commuters. This is shown by calculations from the consulting firm COWI.
It's simply about the fact that many more people can commute to Lolland-Falster. From research, we know a lot about how long people are willing to spend getting to and from work. We also know that the higher education one has, the further one is willing to commute. The report specifically looked at three cities and how much each city can attract because there will be a significantly shorter travel time. And in comparison with Køge and the German Lübeck, Nykøbing Falster stands out as the big winner. The potential is an increased workforce of up to 28 percent.
New opportunities
At Metalcolour in Øster Toreby, just outside Nykøbing, they work with surface treatment and pre-coating of steel and metal sheets. On the wish list for German commuter types are, among others, process and industrial operators.
- Anything that can give us more workforce would be a gift for us, says CEO Jakob Søndergaard Nielsen.
He looks forward to the increased labor supply. And the opportunities that Metalcolour can get. But a lot of things need to be in order from the start, he points out.
- There must be guidance from the start. It is important that as a German commuter, you can get help with everything from, for example, travel deductions and taxes, and whatever else there is. We as a company find it difficult to do that.
Likewise, it is crucial that there are plenty of cars and trains through the tunnel.
- The train connections must be in place. When the connection is finished, everything must be ready. That's when you have the interest of the news and we can attract people. If that part suddenly falls behind, it will pose challenges, he says.
Lack of skilled and highly educated workers
Lolland and Falster already have a great need for both skilled and highly educated employees. The report highlights that especially industries such as construction, metal industry, and engineering can benefit from the increased labor supply. And thus the opportunity for local companies to recruit employees from Northern Germany.
At S.E.W. North Filtration in Maribo, they produce solutions for air filtration and purification. Here, the market is global, and Germany is the largest export market.
- We get another opportunity to recruit labor. And we look forward to that, says managing director Jakob Jacobsen.
Here, Germans are already employed. But these are people who have moved to Denmark.
Opportunities and limitations
At the same time, the report points out that costs such as tunnel fees and transport can become a barrier for some commuters' interest. Therefore, there is a need for solutions that can make commuting more attractive and accessible.
If the challenges are addressed, the new connection can change a lot for Lolland-Falster. With thousands of new potential workers and easier access to workplaces, the region could face unprecedented growth.
In the Øresund region, there are currently 18,500 Swedish employees. Here, efforts have been made to strengthen cooperation and dialogue about working and living across Øresund.
At Fehmernbelt Business Council (FBBC), a coalition of business organizations from Denmark, Northern Germany, and Southern Sweden, there is hope that the authorities are ready to help. It is recommended that a so-called 'Femern Direct' be established, where there is a single entry point and information service where citizens and commuters can get information about all practical matters related to taking a job on the other side of the Belt.
- We see a great potential for a labor market across the Fehmarn Belt when the connection is fully completed, says Steen Nielsen, who is deputy director at DI and part of FBBC.
And it is important to make it easy to work in one country and live in another.
- This requires a focus on ensuring that the rules support mobility across the belt. Therefore, the necessary guidance should be established for companies and employees, as we already know today at the Øresund and the border to Germany in Southern Jutland. And Danish and German authorities should continue to work on ensuring that legislation, including rules for remote work, does not hinder work across the border.
