Social Workers' Fields of Employment in Denmark

About social workers and social work education in Denmark

Traditionally, Denmark has an efficient and extensive social sector where any citizen in need has the possibility of receiving social assistance in the form of financial aid, advice, counselling and/or treatment.

The Danish social legislation is, therefore, very comprehensive. It is a characteristic of Denmark that approx. 90% of all social workers are employed in the public sector and approx. 10% in the non-governmental sector.

Typical fields of employment in the public sector:

• Social welfare and health services in local and regional authorities
• Counselling centres
• Residential institutions for children and young people
• Institutions for disabled people 
• Somatic and psychiatric hospitals
• Treatment centres for drug and alcohol abusers
• Rehabilitation centres
• Prison and probation
• Asylum centres 
• The educational sector

Typical fields of employment in the NGO sector include trade unions, union insurance associations, interest groups, professional bodies or private companies.