A new analysis from the think tank DEA shows that up to 60 percent of unskilled workers in the Danish labor market perform job functions that are above their educational level. It is, among other things, the publicly paid AMU courses that contribute to many unskilled workers actually working as super unskilled. For skilled workers, the extent is lower - up to 15 percent are employed at a higher level.

The labor market is demanding fewer unskilled workers today than 20 years ago. Forecasts also indicate that in 2020 we will need 210,000 fewer unskilled workers than today, while we will be short of around 30,000 skilled workers. This creates an imbalance that is being addressed through reforms to ensure that more people take vocational training, among other things. An important topic in the debate about the future labor market is therefore how to train more skilled workers.

Stina Vrang Elias, CEO of the think tank DEA, points out that the adult and continuing education system currently accounts for only 3.5 percent of total education spending.

According to Stinna Vrang Elias, politicians should consider the potential of AMU courses to solve the shortage of skilled labor. DEA's analysis shows that 30-50 days of AMU courses can double the number of unskilled workers who are lifted to perform job functions at a higher level.

The analysis “Super unskilled and super skilled - competence boost through continuing education” is a result of a collaboration between DEA and the education funds under Dansk Erhverv, HK-Privat, HK-handel and the education funds in Pension Danmark.

Visual overview of the survey.

Further information:

Martin Junge
Forskningschef
Tlf.: +45 51 26 02 04
Email: mj@.dea.nu