Ledighed

Ledighed is the Danish term for the state of being without paid work while available to work. In Danish policy and statistics it is a central concept for understanding the labor market and social protection. It covers people who are not employed but are seeking employment and able to start work.

Ledighedsprocent, the unemployment rate, is the share of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking work. It is estimated by national statistics agencies and the labor market authorities and is often based on registrations with the public employment service or unemployment insurance funds. The rate is influenced by economic cycles, changes in skills demand, and regional conditions.

In Denmark, unemployment benefits are commonly provided as dagpenge and are distributed through unemployment insurance funds, known as A-kasser. To receive dagpenge, a person must be a member of an A-kasse for a certain period and have earned an appropriate amount in recent work history. Recipients must actively seek work and participate in required reemployment activities. The benefit level typically relates to prior earnings and is subject to time limits.

Policy responses emphasize active labor market policies (ALMPs), including career counseling, retraining programs, wage subsidies for employers, and enhanced public employment services. These measures aim to improve job matching, shorten periods of unemployment, and support skills development. Social safety nets complement unemployment benefits for those who exhaust entitlements or face long-term unemployment.

Ledighed has broad social and economic implications, affecting household income, consumption, poverty risk, and mental health. Prolonged or structurally entrenched ledighed can signal shifts in the economy and may require targeted regional or sectoral interventions to restore labor market resilience.