Denmark: Immigrants employed in commerce
Almost 40% of employed 2nd generation immigrants work in supermarkets, wholesalers or other commerce, new figures show. Supermarkets are extremely happy to have New Danes.
Altogether there are nearly 22,000 workers in commerce of non-Western background, according to data from the Ministry of Integration. According to Dansk Handelsblad, commerce is the field employing the most immigrants.
38.5% of all women aged 16-29 who are employed and have parents of non-Western background work in commerce. The figures for men in the same group are slightly lower, 37.2%. Just 25% ethnic Danes aged 16-29 work in commerce.
At Metro, which has 192 workers of non-Danish background, employing New Danes is completely natural.
"With New Danes we get a good, stable and loyal workforce. In our store in Glostrup almost every other employee is a New Dane," CEO Poul Erik Pedersen told Dansk Handelsblad.
Dansk Supermarked, who also own Føtex and Netto, have 5000 employees, who come from 50 countries other than Denmark. The group just hired its first store manager of a non-Danish background, in a Føtex store in greater Copenhagen.
"Our employees should reflect the society around us. New Danes, who have trouble getting into the job market, will naturally be extra loyal when they get a job," says HR manager of Dansk Supermarked, Finn Tang Andersen.
Source: Fyens Stiftstidende (Danish)
