Denmark's government has released an updated list of occupations for which it is looking for foreign workers in the midst of the country's persistent labor scarcity. The list for those with higher education and the list for people working in professions requiring skilled workers both become effective on July 1, 2023, according to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). The same explains that the new Positive List for People with a Higher Education consists of a total of 30 job titles, whereas the Positive List for Skilled Workers consists of 36 job titles. “The job titles on the Positive List for People with a Higher Education will be on the list for two years. It means that the new job titles added as of July 1, 2023, will be on the list at least until June 30, 2025. On the contrary, the job titles on the Positive List for Skilled Work will be on the list at least until December 31, 2023,” SIRI notes.

30 Job Titles Open for Foreigners With Higher Education

The Positive List for People with a Higher Education is a list of professions that are currently experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals. Foreigners who get offered a job on this list can apply for a residence permit as well as a work permit in Denmark based on the Positive List Scheme. As SIRI explains, to qualify for a job and move to Denmark under this specific list, the applicant must have educational qualifications. Moreover, the applicant must also have a job offer before being able to apply for a Danish work visa. According to the newly updated lists, the open positions for foreigners with higher education are as follows: Managers in the field of product and service

• Warehouse Manager with at least three years education at bachelor level

Natural science and engineering Chemist with a Master’s degree

• Automation Engineer with a professional Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree
• Civil Engineer with a professional Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree
• Town Planner with a Master’s degree

Healthcare

• Chief Physician with a Master’s degree + Danish authorisation
• Medical Doctor with a Master’s degree + Danish authorisation
• Doctor with a Specialty with a Master’s degree + Danish authorisation
• Nurse with a professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish authorisation
• Nurse with a Specialty with a professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish authorisation
• Midwife with a professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish authorisation
• Dietary Worker with a professional Bachelor’s degree
• Occupational Therapist with professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish authorisation

Teaching and educational work

• Subject Teacher at a Vocational Upper Secondary Education with a professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish official recognition
• Business College Teacher with a Master’s degree + Danish official recognition
• Primary School Teacher with a professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish official recognition
• Child Care Worker with a professional Bachelor’s degree
• Social Education Worker with a professional Bachelor’s degree

Economics, administration and sales

• Auditor with a Master’s degree
• Accounting Controller with at least three years of education at bachelor level

Information and communication technology

• IT Consultant with at least three years of IT education at bachelor level
• IT Architect with at least three years of IT education at bachelor level
• IT Engineer with at least three years of IT education at bachelor level
• IT Security Consultant with at least three years of IT education at bachelor level

Law, social science and culture

• Economist with a Master’s degree
• Social Worker with a professional Bachelor’s degree
• Priest with a Master’s degree

Technician work in science, engineering and shipping and aviation

• Architectural Technology and Construction Manager with a professional Bachelor’s degree

Technicians and assistants in healthcare

• Radiographer with a professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish authorisation
• Pharmacy Technician with a professional Bachelor’s degree + Danish authorisation
• All of the job positions mentioned above will be on the list for another two years, until June 30, 2025.

36 Job Titles Open for Highly Skilled Foreign Workers

Denmark is also looking for nationals from other countries who are experienced in different fields to deal with the labour shortage. Denmark’s Positive List for Skilled Work is updated twice a year, and under the newly updated list, the open positions are as follows: Science and engineering associate professionals

• Laboratory Technician
• Plumber
• Technical Designer

Business and administration associate professionals

• Sales and Account Manager
• Logistic Employee, sales and purchasing
• Medical Secretary

Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals

• Family Counselor
• Parish Clerk
• Parish Assistant
• Sous chef, kitchen

Information and communication technician work

• IT operator

General and secretary clerks

• Office Assistant

Numerical and material recording clerks

• Accountant’s assistant
• Bookkeeper
• Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerk

Personal services workers

• Chef
• Hairdresser

Personal care workers

• Social and Health Care Assistant with Danish authorisation
• Social and Health Care Assistant with Danish authorisation

Market-oriented skilled agricultural and nursery workers

• Landscape Gardener

Building and related trades workers

• Kitchen fitter
• Carpenter
• Plumber
• Building Painter and Decorator

Metal, machinery and related trades workers

• Blacksmith
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Industrial Technician
• CNC-operator
• Mechanic, passenger cars and vans
• Bicycle mechanic

Electrical and electronic trade workers

• Electrician
• Automatic technical technician
• Electronics Technician
• Telecommunications technician

Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trade workers

• Baker
• Cabinetmaker

Differently from the other list, the job titles under the Positive List for Skilled Work will remain until the end of this year – December 31, 2023. All foreign nationals who get a job under one of the two lists mentioned above will receive their salary based on Danish standards. This means that all foreigners will be subject to the same terms of employment as citizens of Denmark.