While Denmark ramps up military defense, a leading industry group urges a parallel investment in infrastructure, workforce training, and general Danish security.
Danish Security Must Include Technical Readiness
In response to the Danish Prime Minister’s opening speech at the start of the new parliamentary year, TEKNIQ, Denmark’s professional organization representing the technical industries, has voiced a call for broader national preparedness. While recent government focus has been on military reinforcement amidst global unrest, TEKNIQ highlights the urgency of also fortifying Denmark’s societal infrastructure, workforce, and technological capacity. It takes more than weapons to keep a country safe.
Denmark faces a complex global backdrop of political instability and hybrid threats—ranging from cyberattacks to disruptions in digital systems. TEKNIQ stresses that national defense must extend beyond traditional military capabilities to include robust technical infrastructure and a skilled labor force capable of building and maintaining it. Cyberattacks don’t stop with soldiers.
Crisis Resilience Requires Long-Term Planning
According to TEKNIQ, the resilience of society in times of crisis, whether geopolitical, environmental, or technological, depends heavily on having a well-functioning technical backbone and general Danish security. This includes electrical grids, clean water supply, HVAC systems, and digital infrastructure, all of which are maintained by skilled technicians, engineers, and electricians.
The organization argues that effective political leadership must adopt a multigenerational view, charting a course not just for current needs, but for securing stability for years ahead. Denmark’s current economic strength offers a strategic window to make investments in future-proofing the nation holistically, beyond weapons spending.
Urgent Need for Specialized Skilled Workers
One of TEKNIQ’s primary concerns is the noticeable shortage of skilled trade professionals in Denmark, a situation that, if unaddressed, could significantly weaken the country’s ability to maintain critical infrastructure in emergencies. The group advocates for comprehensive initiatives to train, recruit, and retain more vocational workers across fields such as electrical engineering, plumbing, and machinery maintenance.
Today, Denmark has approximately 55,000 workers employed in the sectors represented by TEKNIQ. However, the number of new entrants into technical vocations continues to lag behind demand. If the country is to preserve its quality of life and Danish safety amid emerging threats, these skills must be considered an essential component of national preparedness.
Expanding the Workforce Through Inclusion
TEKNIQ also calls for strategic changes to tap into underutilized labor potential. This includes advocating for more senior citizens to remain in the workforce longer and welcoming skilled international workers into the Danish labor market.
With historic low unemployment rates in Denmark’s technical sectors, significantly below national averages, there is strong evidence of unfilled labor demand. According to recent data, technical employment remains one of Denmark’s most secure industries, demonstrating its importance not just for economic vitality but national resilience as well.
Despite this, demographic shifts suggest labor scarcity could worsen in the coming years. TEKNIQ emphasizes that reforms to pensions, immigration, and training opportunities must be part of a long-term strategy to grow workforce capacity and ensure continuity in technical operations that society relies on daily.
A National Strategy That Balances Defense and Development
TEKNIQ acknowledges the necessity of strengthening Danish security and military capabilities amid uncertain global dynamics. However, the organization reiterates that such investments must be complemented by efforts to secure Denmark’s energy systems, telecommunication networks, and public utilities. Modern hybrid threats, including cyberattacks and digitally-driven sabotage, often target precisely these elements.
With ongoing discussions in Parliament about budget allocations for defense and crisis readiness, TEKNIQ urges decision-makers to take a comprehensive view: resilience extends from weapon systems to wiring, from soldiers to service technicians.
As Denmark recalibrates its security policies, the message from TEKNIQ is clear, technical readiness, workforce resilience, and strategic societal development must form the backbone of a truly secure and competitive nation.
