Denmark’s first official national network for foreign professionals is a reality. The network will be run as a joint effort by Danish Ministry of Economics and Business Affairs and a consortium made up of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, The Copenhagen Post, and the Danish Bankers Association.

Although the network is being established at a time when unemployment is forecast to rise through 2010, increasing the national labour supply remains a challenge.

The consortium’s task will be to set up and co-ordinate the Network for the next 22 months and create regional and local networks which will benefit companies that hire foreign professionals, the foreign professionals themselves as well as their accompanying families. The consortium will also host social and professional events nationwide.

Minister for Economic and Business Affairs Lene Espersen said:

“We need to think ahead if we want to avoid being caught in the low-growth trap that will spring when large generations retire and small generations move into the job market. Denmark needs smart, qualified foreigners, but most of all we need them to stay here for an extended period of time.”

The minister continued:

“Because Denmark has a shortage of people working in professional fields such as medicine, nursing, engineering and research, we need to look beyond our borders. Denmark has a lot to offer, but we need to be better at making sure foreigners are aware of that so they are encouraged to stay. They contribute to the country, and we should help them.”

Managing Director Katia K Østergaard of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, said she and the other members of the consortium were looking forward to helping the foreign professionals who come to Denmark.

“We’re pleased with the government’s initiative to establish an official national Network for foreign professionals and we look forward to collaborating on it. Retaining foreign professionals is an issue we are very concerned about. It is crucial that companies can retain employees who move to Denmark to work. If we’re unable to make this country an attractive place in which to live and work, we risk that companies will be forced to outsource some or all of their activities to countries where they can find the employees they need.”

Foreign professionals who chose not to remain in Denmark for an extended period of time repeatedly cite a lack of social contact with Danes as one of the primary reasons for not staying.

That rapid turnover could result in companies outsourcing some or all of their activities to countries where they can find the companies they need. Global competition for the most qualified employees is becoming increasingly difficult.