The Scandinavian #forgottengold

In this issue, Aamna Tauheed examines the lack of recognition of the international talent pool in Denmark and across Scandinavia.

Photographs: Unsplash

Text: Aamna Tauheed

Today, it is common for people to move to other countries for better employment, education, and a better quality of life. Focusing specifically on the Nordic region, according to the latest figures (2022) from the Nordic co-operation, there are almost 3.5 million internationals living in the Nordic countries.

Among all Nordic countries, Denmark continues to position itself as a global hub for innovation and sustainability. Similarly, its work-life balance, free education, and social security attract international talent to move to Denmark. Recent statistics (2022) indicate a significant increase in international moves to Denmark, almost double that of previous years.

The beginning of the movement

The largest migration to Denmark has caused difficulties for internationals who came in hopes of better employment in the Danish labour market and greater inclusivity in Danish society, yet remain invisible and struggle to survive. Many internationals arrive with higher education, professional skills, global experience, and a strong desire to add value to the Danish job market, but only a few secure professional jobs after years of struggle. Language barrier, informal recruitment networks, and limited recognition of international qualifications frequently prevent skilled professionals from entering roles aligned with their capabilities.

To highlight the gap between international perceptions of Denmark and reality, The International Denmark launched #TheForgottenGold Movement. Our platform calls international talent “forgotten gold,” which already exists in the country but is overlooked and remains invisible in Denmark despite their higher education and professional experience.

Through this movement, our digital and print editions have published several stories about talented internationals seeking visibility in the Danish job market. They share their experience navigating Danish life and the challenges of the Danish labour market as internationals. Through this movement, many respondents also shared how they could add value to Danish society and companies through their professional and social experience. The powerful words of a participant from Denmark in #TheForgottenGold Movement explicitly reflect the situation of internationals. While sharing her story, she said:

“People like me, educated, skilled, and multilingual, have been in this country for years. I am willing to contribute and aware of my professional capabilities and where I can add value to the company. I only need one opportunity and a chance to prove myself.”

Starting over - and starting again

#TheForgottenGold Movement is more than a hashtag. It’s a voice that demands better hiring practices, integration policies, and greater recognition of the challenges faced by international talent living in Nordic countries. It aims to highlight the need for the system to shift and for policies to be redesigned so that nationals and internationals can grow together and bridge the gap between them. Furthermore, this movement’s mission is to confront a quieter reality: thousands of highly qualified international professionals living in Scandinavia remain underutilised and need the country's support for integration and employment.

The movement has attracted significant attention and recognition nationwide. It is now expanding across Scandinavia to amplify the voices of internationals living elsewhere in the Nordic region. The expansion also reflects that the challenges faced by internationals are not confined to Denmark only but are shared across Scandinavia. This is why the upcoming edition of our newspaper also covers the stories of internationals living in Denmark's neighbouring countries.

Countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland enjoy a strong international reputation and are known as progressive, happy, and inclusive societies. They consistently rank among the world’s most attractive countries for quality of life and are widely recognised as welfare states. They also invite international talent to live and work in their countries, but many residing in the Nordic countries are scrambling to secure a foothold.

“I came to Denmark ready to contribute,” one participant who moved from India to Denmark shared, “but I quickly realised that being qualified was not always enough. What mattered was whether someone could see my value.”

“International professionals are not just workers—they are strategic assets in the global economy, and failing to integrate them is a missed opportunity for innovation and competitiveness.”

The systemic barrier

A clear pattern emerged as more stories were shared in #TheForgottenGold Movement. These experiences were not individual failures but systemic ones. The movement challenged the assumption that underemployment among internationals reflects a lack of competence. Instead, it highlighted how opportunity is often shaped by familiarity, networking, and unspoken norms that exclude newcomers to the system. The experience of a recent participant from Denmark in the Danish job market, shared in #TheForgottenGold story, summed up this point clearly. She said, "I think Denmark has a welcoming approach to internationals; however, it needs systemic improvement because welcoming internationals in the country and actually giving them the integration space are two different things. In my opinion and experience, this is not only confined to Denmark, but the situation is the same in Sweden, Norway and Finland because many of my friends are living there and facing the same challenges.”

For this movement, she said that Initiatives like #TheForgottenGold matter to her because they reveal the systemic gap and highlight the struggles of internationals living in Denmark. She described it as a movement for change and a voice for internationals seeking visibility and professional opportunities in Denmark. "There are so many skilled internationals who are invisible here. They are not incompetent or underqualified; they're just stuck between systems that don't connect. This is a good country, but I want to see it live up to the values it represents — inclusion, equality, opportunity."

The impact

For international professionals living in Denmark, the impact of #the Forgotten Gold Movement has been tangible and positive. Participants reported that the movement's visibility has boosted their confidence and motivation. Their published stories have also built trust and made them more credible to recruiters. Beyond recognition, the movement has developed a sense of community and connectivity. Many international professionals navigate the labour market in isolation, lacking access to informal networks that are crucial to hiring and career progression. By creating space for shared experiences and dialogue, the movement has reduced that isolation and encouraged collective advocacy.

Internationals are necessary and beneficial

International professionals bring more than technical expertise and experience. They also bring global perspectives, cross-cultural competence, multilingual communication skills, and international networks. These qualities are strategic assets in the global economy. If companies in Scandinavia did not allow them to work and integrate, retaining international talent would be difficult, if not impossible. This tight-fisted approach to international hiring creates a significant dent in claims of equal opportunity and cultural diversity and represents a missed opportunity for innovation and competitiveness.

Scandinavian countries are often praised for their commitment to equality and inclusion, but the experiences shared through #TheForgottenGold Movement reveal a different story. Inclusion should not exist only in policy statements or be used merely as a marketing strategy to build a country's image. It must be reflected in recruitment processes, workplace culture, and access to leadership and growth opportunities.

Although Denmark promotes diversity and inclusion, both the system and the people will always perceive us as 'others' in their country. They design career guidance programs for the international community, but hesitate to offer equal professional opportunities. I am not complaining or criticising anyone, but I would like to understand how the system works here for international candidates. The system should be more open and welcoming; otherwise, don't invite internationals to your country to study or work,” said one of the movement's respondents while discussing the recruitment system and opportunities to integrate into Nordic society.

As 2026 unfolds, #TheForgottenGold Movement continues to evolve from a nationwide initiative into a Nordic one. Its expansion and growing recognition reflect that visibility is the first step toward inclusivity, a necessary foundation for contribution. International gold is present in the country and is awaiting recognition.