Background information

Six weeks targeted job-training is a measure targeted at skilled and unskilled unemployed workers, allowing them to participate in courses within sectors where there is a high demand for labour. The measure is part of a law on active employment measures. It was implemented in 2015 and most recently updated in 2019. Workers who have been unemployed for at least five weeks can choose courses from a so-called 'Positive List'- which includes several short courses specifically related to skills relevant to heating and the green transition - while they continue to receive their unemployment benefits.

Content of measure

Job-targeted training is a measure targeted at unemployed workers in three groups: unskilled workers and workers with VET qualifications. It is not accessible for those with tertiary qualifications.

The measure allows the participants to participate in one or more short courses of up to six weeks while they continue to receive their unemployment benefits. Courses must be chosen from an approved list published and regularly updated by the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment. The list contains courses within a wide range of areas, where skills are all in high demand for the labour market. This includes short courses in the installation and DRIFT of heating pumps, installation of sun cell panels and private wind power and installation of district heating in homes, highlighting the importance of jobs related to the green transition. The participants apply to the courses through their local Job Centre and it is possible to put together a package of relevant courses to ensure a broader upskilling. However, the courses must be within the same area.

Participants can apply for the measure after five weeks of unemployment. The courses must be completed within nine months of when they first became unemployed.

Use of measure

According to an evaluation of the measure completed in 2022, approximately 49,000 unemployed workers took part in the measure between 2017 and 2022. There is an even spread of participation between these years. Approximately DKK 200 million (€ 26.9 million) is spent on the measure annually. The measure is particularly popular among men, individuals over the age of 50, and skilled workers with a VET qualification.

The evaluation also concludes that there is a higher rate of employment among participants in the measure (63% after two years) compared to those who did not participate in the measure (59% after two years).

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Public employment service	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Albeit social partners have not been involved in designing the measure, the Danish Trade Union Confederation (Fagbevægelsens Hovedorganisation) conducted an evaluation of the measure in 2022, based on data from 16 000 participants.

Views and reactions

The Danish Trade Union Confederation, considers six weeks job-targeted training to be a successful measure. They maintain that it allows the individual to choose their own training and gives them necessary skills and qualifications within areas with a high demand for labour. The Confederation considers the measure especially successful from a more long-term perspective as relevant upskilling helps increase mobility in the labour market and mitigate new periods of unemployment. In 2022, the Danish Trade Union Confederation urged the government to prioritise the measure, whilst also suggesting that the access to the measure should be granted before an individual had been unemployed for five weeks.

Sources

• 07 May 2019: Notice regarding 6 weeks of job-targeted training for insured unemployed individuals (www.retsinformation.dk)
• 01 June 2022: Six weeks job-targeted training: Analysis of the benefits of the scheme (fho.dk)
• 27 October 2022: The scheme of education for the unemployed works - take care of it! (fho.dk)
• 23 January 2024: 6 weeks job-targeted training (www.ug.dk)
• 26 February 2024: Memo: Positive list for six weeks of job-targeted training 2024 (www.star.dk)