The Danish economy is so strong that it fulfilled the conditions for transition to the third and final phase of the European Economic and Monetary Union (due in the late 1990s) even before the Union was started. These conditions include low rates of inflation and interest levels, and a well-balanced national budget.

Unemployment holds top priority among members of the Folketing and in the labour market organisations.

Many decades have passed since agriculture formed the mainstay of the economy. Today, two-thirds of GNP is derived from the services provided by the public and private sectors, while the balance comes from productive sectors like agriculture, industry and trades and crafts.

Employment by sector is as follows: manufacturing 19%, trades and industry 17%, health and social welfare 16%, financial services 9%, other public services 9%, transport 7%, education and research 7%, building and construction 6%, agriculture and fisheries 5%, other private services 5% (1993).

Danes are industrious: even children want to earn money, and 26% of children aged 7 to 14 years have jobs such as delivering newspapers or other part-time work.