When a larger proportion of the Danish population in the coming years will be over 80 years old, it will require 88,000 more public employees. This is the conclusion of two economists in a new book under the auspices of the Rockwool Foundation. (Archive photo). Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix
Economists: Elderly population requires 88k more public workers
Economist Jan Rose Skaksen and former economic advisor Torben M. Andersen project that Denmark will need at least 88,000 additional public employees in the next decade to meet the needs of an aging population, as stated in their new book ‘Danmark går i gråt.’ According to Andersen, this demand will surge quickly, with nearly 80,000 required by 2028. Skaksen warns that if their calculations are accurate, private sector employment could decline. They estimate the labor force will only grow by 47,000 over the same period. As per statistics, 5% of Denmark’s population was 80 or older in 2024, and this is expected to double by 2047.