Danish employees are among the happiest in the world

When Danes go to work, it is often with a smile on their faces. According to a new survey by consulting company Ennova, job satisfaction in Denmark ranks among the highest in the world.

Denmark is often ranked as one of the happiest nations in the world and we have a well-known great work-life balance, which seems to be part of the reason why a new survey concludes that job satisfaction in Denmark ranks among the highest in the world. The survey works across 42 countries from consulting firm Ennova, which conducts employee satisfaction surveys for a large number of Danish and international companies. Being satisfied at work also appears to have a positive impact on efficiency. The Danish workforce is among the most productive, motivated and creative in Europe, which contributes to make up a very attractive business environment.

Dedication and motivation

According to the survey, Danes also find their work very interesting. A high level of education combined with independence and flexibility makes the Danish employees capable of taking on tasks, which elsewhere would be reserved for management. This is not only an advantage for the employers; it also contributes to employees’ job satisfaction.

“The reason we see such high job satisfaction among Danish employees is because we generally have good working environments and because many Danish employers have a real interest in creating exciting and stimulating jobs. Furthermore, it is important for Danish employees that their jobs have purpose and that they contribute to something greater than merely their own delivery. And that is something Danish companies are good at accommodating,” says CEO Thomas Vestergaard, Ennova.

At Denmark’s largest trade organisation, the Confederation of Danish Industry, the survey is received with optimism.“At DI, we’re happy to see that Denmark ranks high in job satisfaction. Job satisfaction increases dedication and motivation and decreases sickness, and a company with a good reputation can more easily attract and retain talented employees. All of this helps create strong and productive companies capable of delivering world-class solutions,” says Director of Management Development Kinga Szabo Christensen, DI.

About the survey

•The Global Employee and Leadership Index (GELx) is based on +35,000 responses gathered in more than 40 countries.
•The survey has been conducted by Ennova since 2000.
•The countries included in the survey are selected based on their significance for global companies domiciled in the Nordic region.

Source: Confederation of Danish Industry (Jonas Forup Stubkjær) & Invest in Denmark
Photo: DI/Hans Søndergård