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Öresund region ten years after opening of the Öresund Bridge

2010 will mark ten years since the opening of the Öresund Bridge. During these ten years, the Öresund region has been characterised by a surge of integration. Every year we have seen this increased integration within the areas of tourism, business cooperation, education and not least the housing and labour markets. The inhabitants in the area travel to a considerably greater degree across the Öresund Bridge to work, explore and experience life the other side. Many people take advantage of the opportunity to shop and enjoy cultural activities on the other side of the Sound, and in the last ten years we have also seen that many choose to live on one side of the Sound and work on the other.

Trends since 2000

After several years of the economic slump following the new millennium, the Öresund region enjoyed sharp growth between 2003 and 2006. The economy was booming on both the Danish and Swedish sides of the Öresund region, and commuting to and from work on the other side increased. Many Danes chose to take advantage of lower housing costs on the Swedish side by settling in Skåne and commuting to well-paid jobs in Copenhagen. Likewise, many Swedes found work on the Danish side of Öresund region. 13 000 persons have moved permanently from Öresund DK to Öresund SE. When migration culminated during 2006 and 2007, more than 4 000 persons moved from Öresund DK to Öresund SE each year, while 1 500 persons moved in the opposite direction.

This has resulted in a sharp upswing in the number of commuters. The number of daily commuters to and from work and home across the Sound has increased from less than 3 000 persons before the Öresund Bridge opened to about 20 000 persons in 2009. As many as 97% of these commuters live in Sweden and work in Denmark. Traffic across Öresund has also increased dramatically. During the 1990s, between two and three million cars crossed Öresund every year. In 2009 the number of vehicles increased to 9.3 million; at the same time, 35.6 million travellers crossed Öresund by car, bus, train or ferry.

Economic downturn

In 2008 a clear slump in the economy was observed, especially on the Danish side of the Sound. The downturn was due to both a reduced demand and an increased shortage of labour, which limited economic growth. The international economic downswing also became clear during 2008, and in 2009 the economy grew even worse. In the wake of the international financial crisis, the Öresund region also experienced much weaker development. However, several economic forecasts predict that the global economy will slowly recover during 2010. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the economic situation is difficult to predict.

This slowdown influences several areas that are taken up in Öresund Trends 2010. Examples of these areas are the labour and housing markets, and their effects on migration and commuting across Öresund. But the statistics do not reveal the entire downturn in all areas, since some of the statistics are released with a certain time lag.

After a period of record low unemployment 2006-2008, unemployment has again increased in the Öresund region.

Migration across Öresund has followed price development on both sides of Öresund, and after many years with a considerable increase in the number of moves from Öresund DK to Öresund SE, many Danes are now moving home again, at the same time as a number of Swedes have begun to move to Öresund DK. However, there is still a slight net surplus of moves from Öresund DK to Öresund SE.

Öresund region competes internationally

The Öresund region is a highly competitive region in many areas. The region itself accounts for 26% of Denmark’s and Sweden’s combined GDP. Every third person aged 25-64 in the Öresund region has a university education - this is above the national levels in both Sweden and Denmark. From an international perspective, the region has a well-educated labour force, but there will be a shortage of qualified labour in the future.

About 3.9% of GRP (Gross regional product) is used in the region on research and development, which is more than in regions such as Berlin and Vienna, but less than in the Stockholm region. Economic growth in the Öresund region is also considerably behind regions such as Stockholm and Helsinki, regions that the Öresund region is normally compared with and regions that are increasingly becoming competitors. The Öresund region is also behind these regions when it comes to productivity development.

It will be a challenge for the region to assure a good infrastructure and mobility in the future, both to and from the region, as well as within the region. The Öresund region’s international accessibility is highly dependent on the region’s only international airport Kastrup in the Copenhagen area.

The future

Ten years after the opening of the Öresund Bridge, the Öresund region has experienced increased integration. This integration may have slowed down somewhat by the economic downturn, but in the long perspective it is expected to increase and will with all likelihood continue to do so in the future. Integration is necessary if the Öresund region also wants to be an internationally competitive region in the future.