User:Klobisser/sandbox

To receive unemployment benefits in Denmark, one must be a part of a voluntary insurance fund and meet all requirements before receiving any benefits. Danish unemployment hit a peak in 1993 with 12.4 percent unemployment. Since then, Denmark has seen a steady decline in unemployment rates, notably hitting 2.4 percent in 2007. This significant decrease in unemployment is attributed to Denmark's emphasis on Active labour market policies (ALMP) throughout the 1990s; which sought to help workers obtain the skills needed to create a successful labour market. The Danish labour market is infused with a high degree of job mobility. The average job length in Denmark is 8 years, making it one of the lowest amidst the OECD countries. The system of labour market flexibility exposes workers to high benefits and allows employers to higher and fire employees with ease. This combination has been in place in Denmark since the 1970s but, the high costs of public benefits eventually began to strain government finances. Therefore, in the 1990s there was policy change that led to an emphasis on private insurance funds.

Currently, the legislation which encompasses the policies of these benefits is The Act on Unemployment Insurance, which is executed by the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment under the Ministry of Employment. In order to become eligible for unemployment benefits, one must become part of one of the twenty four, private, and state approved Insurance fund s; these funds are commonly known in Denmark as A-kasser's or A-kasse. To receive benefits through an insurance fund, one must be a part of the fund for at least one year prior to unemployment, register with the Public Employment Service, and fulfill a waiting period if unemployment is self imposed. According the government, registration with the Public Employment Service, also known as the jobcentret, must occur on the first day of a persons unemployment. From here, one is required to specify their industry of employment interest, create a CV and look at their suggested jobs every seventh day in order to actively seek employment. The benefits received contingent based off one's registration with the Public Employment Service; then an individual's insurance fund addresses the benefits that they are to receive. The amount which one is paid by their insurance fund depends on their age, educational attainment, full or part time status and previous salary.

Employment benefits in Denmark can involve up to 90 percent wage reimbursement per month for a maximum period of three years. Additionally, those who become part time employed are able to receive what is known as a supplementary benefit. A supplementary benefit compensates for remainder of a wage in order to constitute a full time wage for a maximum period of 30 weeks. In Denmark, those not registered with an insurance fund may be eligible to receive some benefits through the state, depending on certain qualifications. The difference here is that these benefits are direct though a citizen's municipality. Recently, there have been changes to this generous system. Beginning in 2019, only those who have lived in Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands or some other EU/EEA country for seven out of the past eight years will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Additionally, reforms have been made regarding self and non standard employment policy in Denmark. These new criteria will take into account a companies overall revenue, tax constraints and the industry in which one functions when assigning new benefits in an effort to recognize that wage earning does accurately measure for all worker's needs. While there is much new research on ALMP in Denmark, some research has also been inconclusive about the factors that have contributed to the success of such ALMP policies, including unemployment benefits.