9 Jobs in France With the Highest Number of Foreign Workers
Key Takeaways
1. In 2021, one in ten workers in France were foreigners, with this proportion rising to one in four in certain occupations.
2. Significant representation of foreign workers was seen in domestic services, security and guarding, and construction.
3. France is experiencing labor shortages in 95 occupations, and the demand for foreign workers is expected to grow.
Foreigners accounted for over ten per cent of the workforce in France, according to a 2021 Dares study. This indicates that one in ten workers in France was a foreigner, with the share increasing to one in four in specific roles.
Statista, referencing Dares, noted that foreign workers made up 40 per cent of employers in household jobs. Immigrant workers were notably employed in security and guarding, construction, and the hotel and catering industry. Additionally, many foreigners worked in politics and the clergy, particularly as priests, with one in four priests in France being foreign.
Most of these occupations were low-skilled or fairly low-skilled. However, some medium or managerial roles were also filled by foreigners in sectors facing labor shortages.
Immigration's Net Fiscal Contribution in France Is Estimated at 0.3% of Country’s GDP
The statistics indicate that France heavily relies on a foreign workforce in key sectors. Beyond addressing labor shortages, migrant workers contribute significantly to the economy. The OECD estimates that taxes and contributions from foreign workers, relative to the public benefits and services they receive, amount to 0.3 per cent of GDP in France and 0.9 per cent of GDP on average in the OECD.
France Is Facing Labor Shortages in 95 Occupations, Recent EURES Report Reveals
Despite the considerable number of foreign workers, France may require an additional workforce due to labor shortages and an aging population. The 2023 EURES report identified 95 shortage occupations in France, with manufacturing, engineering, construction, hospitality, and agriculture among the affected sectors.
The MEDEF Employers’ Federation has warned that France will need about 3.9 million workers by 2050, as reported by Le Monde in December 2023. MEDEF President Patrick Martin emphasized the economy's "massive demand" for immigration, stating:
"Unless we reinvent our social and economic models, we will need 3.9 million foreign employees."
In 2023, the total number of employers in France was estimated at 28.25 million, according to Statista. The number of workers has been steadily increasing since 2015 and is expected to continue rising in the coming years.