Active Labour Market Policies for Disabled People in Denmark

The main objective of this paper is to provide relevant information about existing active labour market policies for the disabled people in Denmark. The paper presents an over-view of active labour market schemes in Denmark. The description suggests that the policy emphasises active labour market measures, job search and voluntary participation of employers through wage subsidies.
Legislative policies in the shape of anti-discrimination legislation or legislation imposing obligations on employers are non-existing in Denmark. During the 1990s there has been many minor changes in the Danish labour market policy towards disabled people but no vital reforms. Incentives to strengthen (re-)integration of disabled people at the labour market and increasing responsibilities of non-public actors (e.g. employers) are some of the main characteristics of the Danish employment policy.
Available evaluative studies on active labour market policy in Denmark, is set out in the final section of this paper. In general these studies suggest that active labour market policies facilitate the employment of disabled people but that some of the policies also have negative side effects such as stigmatisation and dead weight losses.
Senior Researcher Jan Høgelund and Research Associate Jane Greve Pedersen have written the paper that is part of the research programme “The Open Labour Market”. This research programme is initiated by the Ministry of Social Affairs.