Denmark’s Genius Plan to Keep Nurses Working

Sandra Oparaocha

Writer

December 21, 2025
6:06 am

A special employment scheme in Aalborg is helping older nurses extend their working lives while easing pressure on the local healthcare system.

Adjusting work hours to retain experienced staff

In Aalborg Municipality, a new senior employment plan encourages older nurses to stay longer in the workforce. The program allows them to reduce their weekly hours while maintaining most of their income. The goal is to keep experienced employees in their positions and prevent further staff shortages in the healthcare sector, which is already facing significant challenges.

One participant, a 63-year-old nurse named Anne-Grethe Eriksen, decided to join the program after nearly four decades in the profession. She now works 26 hours per week instead of 32, a change that she says has improved her energy and enthusiasm for her job. For many in Denmark, programs like this reflect the strong national focus on maintaining a healthy work-life balance while supporting older employees.

An incentive to stay longer on the job

The Aalborg initiative has become popular among senior nurses. In just one year, the number of nurses over 60 participating in the program has increased from 9 to 26. Under this system, employees reduce their work hours to 80 percent of full time, receive 90 percent of their previous salary, and continue earning a full pension.

This approach helps keep valuable experience within the public health system. The municipality hopes that, with this flexibility, more senior nurses will choose to delay retirement. Aalborg’s senior and care alderwoman, Vibeke Gamst, has expressed optimism about expanding the arrangement to other employee groups in the future if the positive results continue.

Helping Denmark manage an aging workforce

Across Denmark, many municipalities face a shortage of healthcare workers. With the population aging, experts are warning that the pressure on hospitals and eldercare facilities will continue to rise. Retaining professionals who already possess deep institutional knowledge is becoming a key strategy for maintaining service quality.

Anne-Grethe Eriksen sees the program as a lifeline that can extend her career without causing burnout. She once thought about retiring early, but with the reduced hours and stable income, she now finds her work more sustainable. This mindset aligns with Denmark’s broader values regarding professional longevity and personal well-being.

Origins and future possibilities

Originally, Aalborg introduced the senior arrangement for SOSU assistants, a group of social and health workers who provide everyday care in nursing homes and private homes. After successful results, the municipality decided last year to offer the same terms to nurses aged 60 and older. Currently, there are 66 such nurses employed, and nearly half have opted into the new plan.

Officials view the program as a success. Not only are more employees staying on the job, but the initiative has also attracted attention from other Danish municipalities facing similar staff shortages. If expanded, it could inspire more nationwide policies aimed at helping older workers remain active in the labor market while protecting their time and health through better work-life balance options.

An alternative to early retirement

While Denmark’s pension system offers flexibility, the country still encourages people to stay in employment longer when possible. Adjustments like Aalborg’s senior policy give workers practical reasons to remain rather than retiring early. The mix of reduced hours, high pay retention, and full pension contributions is a combination that benefits both employees and employers.

Interestingly, initiatives like this may also reduce overall stress levels among healthcare workers, helping to lower sick leave rates and improve continuity in patient care. It reflects how Danish municipalities are experimenting with modern employment solutions to sustain a more resilient welfare system.