Job Search and Workplace Experiences of International Residents in Denmark
Author
Katsigiannis, Christos
Term
4. term
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-30
Abstract
This thesis explores how international residents in Denmark experience job searching and working in the Danish labour market. Instead of viewing integration only as getting a job, it frames labour market integration as a broad, ongoing process that includes recruitment experiences, participation at work, language and cultural adaptation, social belonging, emotional responses, and long-term career development. The study uses a mixed-methods design: an online survey completed by 100 international residents in Denmark and four semi-structured interviews. Survey data were analysed with descriptive statistics, and interviews were thematically analysed with support from NVivo. The analysis was guided by theories of labour market integration, social integration, and cross-cultural adaptation. The findings show that job searching was often experienced as difficult, uncertain, and emotionally demanding. Participants faced barriers such as repeated rejection, limited feedback from employers, Danish language requirements, lack of Danish work experience, small professional networks, and concerns about the recognition of foreign qualifications. These factors shaped not only access to jobs but also participants’ confidence, motivation, and views of future career opportunities in Denmark. Workplace experiences among those employed were generally more positive—especially when participants felt welcomed, respected, supported, and able to understand workplace expectations. However, employment did not automatically lead to full integration. Some still encountered communication barriers, social distance, language-related exclusion, and difficulties taking part in informal social interactions at work. The thesis concludes that labour market integration for international residents in Denmark is a complex, uneven, and ongoing process that depends not only on obtaining employment but also on meaningful workplace participation, cultural adaptation, social belonging, recognition of qualifications, emotional resilience, and opportunities for long-term professional development.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan internationale tilflyttere i Danmark oplever jobsøgning og arbejdsliv på det danske arbejdsmarked. I stedet for kun at se integration som adgang til et job, forstås arbejdsmarkedsintegration her som en bred og løbende proces, der omfatter rekrutteringserfaringer, deltagelse på arbejdspladsen, sprog- og kulturtilpasning, socialt tilhørsforhold, følelsesmæssige reaktioner og langsigtet karriereudvikling. Studiet bruger en mixed methods-tilgang: Et online spørgeskema besvaret af 100 internationale beboere i Danmark og fire semistrukturerede interviews. Spørgeskemadata blev analyseret med deskriptiv statistik, og interviewene blev temaanalyseret med støtte fra NVivo. Fortolkningen blev informeret af teorier om arbejdsmarkedsintegration, social integration og tværkulturel tilpasning. Resultaterne viser, at jobsøgning ofte opleves som svær, usikker og følelsesmæssigt krævende. Deltagerne mødte barrierer som gentagne afslag, begrænset feedback fra arbejdsgivere, sprogkrav, mangel på dansk erhvervserfaring, små professionelle netværk og tvivl om anerkendelse af udenlandske kvalifikationer. Disse forhold påvirkede ikke kun adgangen til job, men også deltagernes selvtillid, motivation og syn på fremtidige karrieremuligheder i Danmark. Blandt dem, der var i arbejde, var oplevelserne oftest mere positive—særligt når de følte sig velkomne, respekterede, støttede og forstod forventningerne på arbejdspladsen. Alligevel førte beskæftigelse ikke automatisk til fuld integration. Nogle oplevede fortsat kommunikationsbarrierer, social afstand, sprogrelateret udelukkelse og vanskeligheder ved at deltage i uformelle sociale sammenhænge på arbejdspladsen. Afhandlingen konkluderer, at arbejdsmarkedsintegration for internationale tilflyttere i Danmark er en kompleks, ujævn og vedvarende proces, der ikke kun afhænger af at få et job, men også af meningsfuld deltagelse på arbejdspladsen, kulturel tilpasning, socialt tilhørsforhold, anerkendelse af kvalifikationer, følelsesmæssig robusthed og muligheder for langsigtet professionel udvikling.
[This abstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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