Local businesses launch push to keep young people in Lemvig during gap years

Twenty local companies in Lemvig, western Denmark, are intensifying efforts to persuade young residents to stay in the area during their sabbatår (gap year) rather than relocate to larger cities or abroad, DR reports.

At the JobKurs event on Tuesday, 450 students from Lemvig Gymnasium tried hands-on roles in fields such as shipbuilding, pharmacy, and construction. The initiative, now in its second year, aims to showcase local career opportunities and combat the municipality’s declining youth population—one in ten residents have left over the past decade, according to Statistics Denmark.

“We have incredibly exciting businesses that many overlook,” said Sanne Haugaard Hermansen, settlement consultant for Lemvig Municipality. “It’s crucial to show young people that a gap year doesn’t have to mean moving to Aarhus or Bali.”

Several students expressed interest in staying. Laura Kallesø, a 3.g student, said she could envision working at Skovgaard Energy after hearing positive reviews from current gap-year employees about the company’s youth culture and dynamic environment. Clara Røn, completing her EUX vocational program, cited her attachment to Lemvig’s tight-knit community: “I like that you can walk down to the harbour and run into people you know.”

Others, like Cecilie Agger, still plan to leave. “I want to try something new—experience more than just what I’ve always known,” she said.

Businesses reported early success. RG Rom Gummi, a local manufacturer, hired multiple gap-year workers last year, one of whom is now starting an apprenticeship. “We desperately need skilled labour,” said production manager Mads Holm Mikkelsen. “Training young people here is vital for our future.”

The event’s expansion—moving to the larger Lemvig Culture and Sports Centre—reflects growing interest. Hermansen noted that last year’s JobKurs led to several employment agreements, proving the model’s potential to retain youth while addressing labour shortages.