With a population of just over 200,000, Aalborg is Denmark's fourth-largest city. It is situated in northern Jutland and features a waterfront along the Limfjord. An abundance of museums, theatres, and performance venue give it a strong cultural scene, while the city's vibrant buzz can be accredited to the 25,000 students that attend Aalborg University. This upcoming city has plenty of opportunities for expats.
The economy of Aalborg
In addition to housing Denmark's only cement-producing company, Aalborg has a well-developed information technology and telecommunications industry. Although the city was largely industrial until the 2000s, Aalborg has since developed into a major tourist destination second only to Copenhagen. The city has a renewed focus on green energy and doing business in the Arctic, in particular with Greenland.
Reasons to work in Aalborg
Aalborg is an international city with well-developed research institutions and major companies across several sectors. It is by no means a remote city; the Scandinavian capitals of Oslo, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen can all be reached within an hour by airplane flight. The city also boasts much lower living costs than Denmark's capital Copenhagen, but salaries are still very competitive.
And perhaps the best part – Aalborg offers free business services through BusinessAalborg to help locals and foreigners found new businesses. BusinessAalborg connects newcomers to important contacts while providing expert advice.
Career prospects in Aalborg
There are certainly job opportunities available for English speakers in Aalborg. However, knowledge of Danish, other Scandinavian languages, and German will be a great advantage in your job search. Experience from other Danish companies could also be an asset.
Here are some of the areas where foreign professionals could find a job in Aalborg:
- Academics: Aalborg University is a dynamic research institution with lots of potential vacancies for students and academic professionals alike. Most administrative positions require fluency in Danish, but many academic vacancies, PhD opportunities, and post-doc positions at Aalborg University are in English.
- Renewable energy: Aalborg is a leading city for sustainable energy resources, including biomass, wind power, and solar power. A focus on expanding energy-saving through district heating and energy production with biological waste is at the forefront of Aalborg's innovative renewable energy research. Potential roles within this sector for English professionals include design engineering, project management, renewable energy research, mechanical testers, and process engineering. Some of the biggest renewable energy companies in Aalborg are NEAS Energy and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
- Manufacturing: Aalborg's history of industrial manufacturing has led to the development of manufacturing plants in the city. Oil and gas, industrial, and marine industries are the major focus of Aalborg's manufacturing. Potential roles within manufacturing for expats in Aalborg include process engineering and QHSE roles.
- Information and communication technology: As Northern Denmark's biggest ICT hub, Aalborg has contributed to a turnover of EUR 2.33 billion and hosts the largest number of Danish students in ICT study programmes. Developer roles, including front-end, back-end, IOS, and full-stack roles are available at several companies in the city. Front-end and graphic designers might also find opportunities at some of the city's start-ups.
- Other areas where expats can find opportunities in Aalborg include trading and transport, offshore jobs, and construction.
Where to search for jobs in Aalborg
The labour market in Aalborg is quite competitive. Be patient and apply for as many positions as possible to increase your chances of landing a job. Here are some online job portals:
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