The Greenlandic labor market is structurally challenged, and a long-term labor shortage is putting pressure on the municipalities, according to a new report.
Recruitment challenges, particularly in the healthcare system and municipal institutions, combined with a continued high dropout rate among young people in the education system, underlines the need for targeted efforts.
This is what Naalakkersuisut writes about the annual report on the labor market, which was published recently.
The statement thus focuses, among other things, on the recruitment problems in the health service and the municipalities, which has been a problem for a number of years.
Here, the report states that the long-term shortage of labor is putting pressure on all municipalities, and that the challenge is further strengthened by demographic developments with an increasing elderly population.
– Although the challenge is well known, the municipalities face great difficulties in recruiting and retaining stable staff. This has resulted in increasing costs as a result of an increased use of temporary workers and costs for overlapping resignations, the report summarizes.
It is added that similar conditions apply to the healthcare system, where there are still significant challenges with recruiting and retaining staff.
This is expressed in the form of a high staff turnover, a large proportion of short-term employees and limited continuity and stability in staffing.
Doctors and nurses no longer need a Danish authorization
However, concrete progress is also reported, among other things in relation to making it easier for healthcare personnel to come to Greenland.
A fast track agreement for the health sector, concluded in September 2025, means that doctors and nurses no longer need a Danish authorization, but can get their authorization here in Greenland.
– With this, Naalakkersuisut hopes that the recruitment of these professional groups from the rest of the world will be easier, the report states.
On top of the challenges with a lack of manpower comes the problem that there is still a high dropout rate among young people in the country’s education programs.
Naalakkersuisoq for the labor market, Maritha Broberg (A), states that the challenges require closer cooperation across relevant actors:
– The societal challenges require closer cooperation across relevant actors. It is of great importance that synergies are strengthened in the link between the labor market, business and skills development.
– The next generations deserve to be prepared for a working life where demographics will play an increasingly leading role in society, says Maritha Broberg.
