Erling was originally trained as a farmer and ran Svendsholm for 23 years until 2012 with pig production. At that time, he changed work tracks and became a social worker. First as a substitute at the secured institution Koglen in Stakroge, which is for criminals and crime-threatened young people with social problems aged 12-18 years. Later, both Erling and Charlotte took special education as family caregivers. Today, they are a foster family for two young people aged 14-18.
Erling is a Member of Holstebro City Council since the beginning of 2022 for the Liberal Party. In the City Council, he is a member of the Labor Market Committee and the Children and Family Committee.