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Labour market status, RAS

How high are the  activity rate and employment rate in Denmark? How many people are employed, unemployed, or outside the labour force? These questions can be answered by the register-based labour market statistics (RAS). RAS is an annual account of the population’s labour market status based on register information.

Selected statistics on Labour market status (RAS)

This page shows selected popular statistics on the subject of Labour market status (RAS). In Statbank Denmark, you can find more data and compile your own statistics.

Development in activity rate and employment rate

The figure shows the development in the activity rate and employment rate. The employment rate measures the share of employed persons as a percentage of the total population (aged 16–64), while the activity rate measures the share of employed and unemployed persons as a percentage of the population (aged 16–64). Since 2022, data are also available for the 16–66 age group – click ‘In Statbank Denmark…’ below the figure.
More about the figure
Last update
18.11.2025
Next update
26.11.2026
Source data

Starting from the publication on April 28, 2015, RAS is based on the Labor Market Account (AMR_UN), which is a longitudinal register. In this context, RAS has been revised back to November 2008. At the same time, the dating of the statistics was changed, so that it is now dated according to the reference point at the end of November. This means that the most recent assessment is labeled as the end of November 2024, whereas previously it would have been labeled 2025.

Data in AMR_UN come from a number of other sources:

  • The eIncome Register
  • The Business Statistics Register
  • The Statistics on People Receiving Public Benefits
  • The Education Statistics
  • The Income Statistics
  • The Population Statistics
  • The Maternity and Sickness Benefits Statistics
  • The Occupational Classification Module

Before 2008, the basic data for employees came from the central information form register at SKAT, and these data were not longitudinal.

Employment rate in the municipalities

The map shows the employment rate in the Danish municipalities.
More about the figure
Last update
18.11.2025
Next update
26.11.2026
Source data

Starting from the publication on April 28, 2015, RAS is based on the Labor Market Account (AMR_UN), which is a longitudinal register. In this context, RAS has been revised back to November 2008. At the same time, the dating of the statistics was changed, so that it is now dated according to the reference point at the end of November. This means that the most recent assessment is labeled as the end of November 2024, whereas previously it would have been labeled 2025.

Data in AMR_UN come from a number of other sources:

  • The eIncome Register
  • The Business Statistics Register
  • The Statistics on People Receiving Public Benefits
  • The Education Statistics
  • The Income Statistics
  • The Population Statistics
  • The Maternity and Sickness Benefits Statistics
  • The Occupational Classification Module

Before 2008, the basic data for employees came from the central information form register at SKAT, and these data were not longitudinal.

Labour market status of the population

The figure shows the population by age and socioeconomic status by the main groups: employed, unemployed, and people outside the labour force.
More about the figure
Last update
18.11.2025
Next update
26.11.2026
Source data

Starting from the publication on April 28, 2015, RAS is based on the Labor Market Account (AMR_UN), which is a longitudinal register. In this context, RAS has been revised back to November 2008. At the same time, the dating of the statistics was changed, so that it is now dated according to the reference point at the end of November. This means that the most recent assessment is labeled as the end of November 2024, whereas previously it would have been labeled 2025.

Data in AMR_UN come from a number of other sources:

  • The eIncome Register
  • The Business Statistics Register
  • The Statistics on People Receiving Public Benefits
  • The Education Statistics
  • The Income Statistics
  • The Population Statistics
  • The Maternity and Sickness Benefits Statistics
  • The Occupational Classification Module

Before 2008, the basic data for employees came from the central information form register at SKAT, and these data were not longitudinal.

Development in activity rate by ancestry

The figure shows the activity rate for people of Danish origin, immigrants from Western and non¿Western countries, as well as descendants from Western and non¿Western countries. The activity rate measures the share of employed persons as a percentage of the total population in the 16–64 age group. Since 2022, data are also available for the 16–66 age group – click ‘In Statbank Denmark…’ below the figure. 
More about the figure
Last update
18.11.2025
Next update
26.11.2026
Source data

Starting from the publication on April 28, 2015, RAS is based on the Labor Market Account (AMR_UN), which is a longitudinal register. In this context, RAS has been revised back to November 2008. At the same time, the dating of the statistics was changed, so that it is now dated according to the reference point at the end of November. This means that the most recent assessment is labeled as the end of November 2024, whereas previously it would have been labeled 2025.

Data in AMR_UN come from a number of other sources:

  • The eIncome Register
  • The Business Statistics Register
  • The Statistics on People Receiving Public Benefits
  • The Education Statistics
  • The Income Statistics
  • The Population Statistics
  • The Maternity and Sickness Benefits Statistics
  • The Occupational Classification Module

Before 2008, the basic data for employees came from the central information form register at SKAT, and these data were not longitudinal.

Development in employment rate by ancestry

The figure shows the employment rate for persons of Danish origin, immigrants from Western and non¿Western countries, as well as descendants from Western and non¿Western countries. The employment rate measures the share of employed and unemployed persons as a percentage of the total population in the 16–64 age group. Since 2022, data are also available for the 16–66 age group – click ‘In Statbank Denmark…’ below the figure.
More about the figure
Last update
18.11.2025
Next update
26.11.2026
Source data

Starting from the publication on April 28, 2015, RAS is based on the Labor Market Account (AMR_UN), which is a longitudinal register. In this context, RAS has been revised back to November 2008. At the same time, the dating of the statistics was changed, so that it is now dated according to the reference point at the end of November. This means that the most recent assessment is labeled as the end of November 2024, whereas previously it would have been labeled 2025.

Data in AMR_UN come from a number of other sources:

  • The eIncome Register
  • The Business Statistics Register
  • The Statistics on People Receiving Public Benefits
  • The Education Statistics
  • The Income Statistics
  • The Population Statistics
  • The Maternity and Sickness Benefits Statistics
  • The Occupational Classification Module

Before 2008, the basic data for employees came from the central information form register at SKAT, and these data were not longitudinal.

On the statistics – documentation, sources and method

Gain an overview of the purpose, contents and quality of the statistics. Learn about the data sources of the statistics, the contents of the statistics and how often they are published.

See the documentation of statistics to learn more:

Quarterly Labour Force

The purpose the Quarterly Labour Market Status (KAS) is to to provide a description of the Danish population's affiliation to the labour market. KAS is an averaging of the populations affiliation to the labour market per quarter and per year and is published annually. KAS covers the hole population from 2017 and on, while it covers the employed part of the population 1st. - 4th. quarter from 2008 to 2017.

Register-Based Labour Force Statistics

The purpose of the Register-Based Labour Force Statistics (RAS) is to measure the population’s primary attachment to the labour market. This attachment is recorded at the end of November and compiled once a year. The first RAS compilation was made at the end of November 1980.

Need more data on Labour market status (RAS)?

Go searching on your own i Statbank Denmark. Find more detailed figures on the population’s labour market status broken down by, for example, gender, age, and geography.

Contact

Pernille Stender
Phone: +45 24 92 12 33