Unemployment insurance and trade unions

As opposed to other forms of social security, unemployment insurance is voluntary which means that you are not automatically insured against unemployment in Denmark. Instead, you need to take out an unemployment insurance policy from an unemployment insurance fund, a so-called ‘A-kasse’.

The majority of unemployment insurance funds is affiliated with specific trade unions but there are also a number of funds that do not specialise. It is not compulsory to a member of the affiliated trade union to become a member of a specific unemployment insurance fund.

You can apply for unemployment benefits if you become unemployed. On your first day as unemployed, you must register yourself as looking for a job (being unemployed). You can do this at Job Center Viborg or on jobnet.dk. To be eligible for unemployment benefits and assistance from an unemployment fund, certain conditions apply.

Detailed information about the Danish unemployment system and what you need to do is available on Unemployment benefits (borger.dk) and on Unemployment Insurance (workindenmark.dk)

As trade unions constitute one side of the Danish labour market stakeholders, they play a key role in the Danish labour market and the majority of Danish employees are members of a trade union but membership is not compulsory.

Trade unions help their members in matters relating to pay and working conditions and can help in occupational injury cases, rehabilitation and related matters. Some trade unions also offer personal advice, courses and training, and bonus schemes. The services and offers available vary from trade union to trade union.

If you wish to be a member of a trade union, your choice of trade union is likely to depend on the sector you work in. You can for example ask your colleagues about how they are organised.

More detailed information about trade unions is available on The Danish Labour Market Model, Trade Unions and Danish unions