Number of individuals unemployed after the coronavirus outbreak in Denmark 2020-2021

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people faced lay-offs and dismissals in Denmark. Since the country shut down on March 11, 2020, the number of dismissals increased significantly and hence, the unemployment rate in the country reached more than five percent in May that year. However, since February 2021, the unemployment rate decreased steadily and stood at less than three percent in January 2022.The Capital Region and Northern Denmark were the two regions with the highest unemployment rates in the country during the pandemic.

Suffering sectors

Some sectors have suffered more than other from the lock-down. This was especially the case for employees in travel agencies and related services. Other heavily affected industries were the trading sector as well as the hotel and restaurant sector. In fact, the number of unemployed individuals in the travel industry was more than 36,000 by the end of December 2020.

Better times expected

After more than 100,000 people were registered as unemployed in 2020 and 2021, the number of unemployed persons is predicted to fall below 70,000 in 2022. It is then expected to increase slightly again in 2023 and 2024, but is forecast to remain below 80,000.