Bornholm’s largest private employer cuts 175 jobs amid global market downturn

Bornholm’s biggest private employer, Jensen Denmark, will lay off 175 workers—equivalent to roughly 1 percent of the island’s workforce—due to a sharp decline in orders, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

The company, which manufactures industrial laundry equipment including folding machines, informed its approximately 700 employees across four Bornholm locations on Tuesday morning. The 175 affected workers received termination notices and will leave their positions by Wednesday, according to a statement from managing director Morten Rask.

Jimmi Hjorth, chair of the Metal Bornholm union branch, called the layoffs “a real gut punch,” noting that 69 of the dismissed workers are skilled metalworkers under his organisation. “This is a day of sorrow for all those affected by this mass dismissal. It’s a deeply negative mark on the island,” he said.

Bornholm’s mayor, Frederik Tolstrup of the Conservative Party, described the news as “incredibly sad,” emphasising Jensen’s role as a cornerstone of the local economy. “This is a major blow—so many people losing their jobs at once,” Tolstrup said.

Local authorities, including the regional municipality, job centre, and Campus Bornholm, are coordinating retraining and upskilling programmes for the laid-off workers. Hjorth highlighted the island’s strong cross-sector collaboration as a critical advantage: “The safety net we’ve built together will hopefully help these colleagues move forward quickly.”

The job cuts come as global market instability has reduced demand for Jensen Group’s industrial laundry solutions. The company operates production facilities in multiple countries.