Research and policies on migrant integration in Denmark

Migrant workers strengthen healthcare sector

In Denmark's health sector, foreign nationals (including TCNs) play a growing role in sustaining staffing levels, according to a new analysis by the Danish Chamber of Commerce. Over the past decade, their share among doctors, nurses, and health assistants has doubled, and today around 1 in 7 healthcare workers is a migrant.

The strongest increase can be found among health assistants in elderly care, where the vast majority of new hires are non-Danish, including EU citizens, workers on employment schemes, and permanent residents with refugee backgrounds. From a TCN integration perspective, this reflects how migrant labour contributes to maintaining welfare services amid a declining domestic workforce. According to the analysis, business leaders have highlighted that international staff play an important role in supporting the economic stability and resilience of Denmark's welfare system.

Majority of people displaced from Ukraine intend to remain in Denmark

Under Denmark's special temporary protection scheme, people displaced from Ukraine are granted residence permits for 1 year at a time, currently extended until March 2027, without access to permanent residence. At the moment, approximately 44 000 individuals reside in Denmark under this framework.

A recent survey by the Rockwool Foundation, covering people who arrived from Ukraine between February 2022 and July 2024, examines their future intentions and experiences. The findings show that 76% wish to remain in Denmark even if conditions in their home regions improve. In contrast, 21% would prefer to return once it is safe, and 3% wish to return immediately. At the same time, uncertainty is found to affect daily life, with 27% reporting fear of return as a serious problem and 25% as a major problem.

Impact of high migrant worker turnover on integration outcomes

Denmark allows workers from 16 selected non-EU countries to access employment under more flexible conditions than other TCNs. A recent analysis by the Rockwool Foundation examines their labour market attachment and length of stay.

The findings indicate that most workers from these countries do not remain in Denmark in the longer term. Among those who arrived between 2004 and 2011, around 8 in 10 had left after 12 years, compared to approximately 6 in 10 among EU workers. Among those who stayed, relatively few obtained Danish citizenship. The analysis highlights the potential for improving the retention of foreign workers, noting that longer stays could support labour supply stability and reduce recruitment costs for employers.

Study on trauma and refugee employment outcomes

Labour market outcomes among refugees in Denmark tend to improve in the first years after arrival, yet according to statistics a persistent employment gap remains. A recent study on people displaced from Ukraine examines the role of mental health in shaping these outcomes, with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Following refugees over 2 years, the study finds that probable PTSD is associated with a significant reduction in the likelihood of employment. The results are consistent and indicate that trauma plays a central role in longer-term labour market integration. Its impact is estimated to be comparable to the positive effect of prior formal employment and larger than the benefit associated with English language proficiency.

Among those employed, PTSD symptoms are linked to reduced working hours but show no measurable effect on hourly wages, highlighting differentiated impacts on labour market participation.

New handbook supports education of young refugees

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) published a handbook aimed at professionals working with young migrants holding international or temporary protection in Denmark. Targeting teachers and education counsellors in youth education programmes, the material outlines the backgrounds and conditions shaping young refugees' experiences.

The handbook focuses on challenges related to education participation, well-being and integration, and provides practical tools and guidance to support students more effectively. By strengthening professional understanding and support approaches, the resource aims to improve educational outcomes and facilitate smoother integration pathways for young refugees. The handbook is available free of charge in Danish.

Research published on public misperceptions of migration integration

A survey from Aalborg University shows that Danish people tend to underestimate integration outcomes among migrants and their descendants, regardless of political views. Respondents evaluated 6 areas, including employment, education, crime, democratic values, partner choice and gender equality, using native Danes as a benchmark.

Across all areas, respondents consistently overestimated the gap between Danes and ethnic minorities. For example, crime rates among young men of non-Western background were perceived as significantly higher than actual figures. The findings point to a broad mismatch between perception and reality, with potential implications for public debate and integration policy priorities.

New marriage rules introduced to promote migrant integration

In the context of promoting the integration of third-country nationals (TCNs) in Denmark, a new rule addresses marriage between people who are closely related. Marriages between relatives such as cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews are prohibited, and related religious ceremonies are also now punishable.

The rule aims to reduce coercion and arranged marriages - issues which have previously been found to affect various migrant communities in Denmark - and support personal freedom. Such marriages which take place legally abroad are not recognised in Denmark, including those involving individuals under 18 at the time of marriage. Family reunification based on such marriages is restricted but may be considered through the basis of established family life. The rule is part of a 22-initiative plan, 'A Free Life in Denmark', published in January 2025 targeting social control and parallel societies within integration policy and governance frameworks on TCN integration.

Improving migrant representation in the Danish Parliament

Migrants and their descendants, including many third-country nationals (TCNs), make up 16.3% of Denmark's population and hold 4 of 179 seats in the newly elected parliament, indicating a significant representation gap.

A recent analysis by the Danish Institute for Human Rights identifies several structural barriers that limit migrant political participation. These include restrictive citizenship rules that reduce voting and candidacy rights, uneven access to political networks, and limited institutional support for prospective candidates with migrant backgrounds. The report recommends easing access to citizenship, strengthening support mechanisms for political participation, and addressing institutional barriers that discourage candidacy.

New research looks at how local perspectives shape refugee integration

A new research article published in the Nordic Journal of Migration Research examines how national integration policies are interpreted and implemented at the local level in Denmark, with a focus on young refugees. Based on 19 qualitative interviews across 11 municipalities, the study explores how frontline stakeholders translate policy into practice.

The authors identify 5 distinct interpretations of integration, grouped into 2 broader frameworks: a national policy regime and a social justice regime. These reflect differing views on the relationship between refugees, the state, and concepts such as rights and citizenship. The findings highlight practical dilemmas in implementation, illustrating challenges arising between national policy objectives and local approaches to inclusion and support within the Danish welfare context.