France Named Most Attractive EU Destination for Skilled Foreign Workers
Key Takeaways
1. By July 2024, 5.2% of foreign job searches in the EU were for positions in France.
2. This increase is primarily attributed to simplified work visa procedures, making it easier for foreign professionals to find employment.
3. France accounts for 36% of foreign clicks on high-paying job offers, leading among Western countries.
As of July 2024, approximately 3.1% of job searches in the European Union were conducted by foreign candidates. France captured a significant share of this interest, with foreign job searches rising from 2.9% in June 2020 to 5.2% in July 2024.
According to Indeed, the surge in interest is largely due to the recent simplification of work visa application procedures, making it more accessible for foreign professionals to seek opportunities in France.
France Leads in High-Paying Job Searches Among Western Nations
Among major Western countries, France stands out as a prime destination for attracting skilled workers. It accounts for 36% of foreign clicks on high-paying job offers, outperforming other destinations such as:
- Netherlands (35%)
- United States (30%)
- Germany (28%)
- Italy (23%)
- Spain (21%)
However, lower-paying jobs attract a higher percentage of foreign workers in Australia (47%) and Spain (52%), compared to 33% in France.
Certain sectors in France, particularly education and training, are especially appealing to foreign workers. This sector saw a 0.9% increase over five years, reaching 3.2% of foreign clicks by early 2024, with strong interest from Moroccans, Tunisians, British, Americans, and Canadians.
Growth Across Key Sectors Amid Worker Shortage
Other sectors have also experienced growth of more than 0.5% since 2019, including catering, road transport, installation and maintenance, and medical fields, attracting significant interest from workers in Maghreb countries.
Schengen.News previously reported that the MEDEF Employers’ Federation warned that France will need 3.9 million workers by 2050. Additionally, data from the Interior Ministry indicates that France issued 320,000 first-time residence permits to non-European immigrants in 2023, a 1.4% increase from 2022.
Among these permits, 54,000 were issued for economic immigration, reflecting a 5% rise compared to the previous year. In 2021, one in ten workers in France were foreigners, and this ratio increased to one in four in certain sectors, particularly domestic services, security, and construction. Foreign workers comprised 40% of those employed in household jobs.
A significant number of immigrant workers are also found in the security and guarding, construction, and hospitality sectors.