France Needs Around 310,000 Foreign Workers to Keep Its Economy Running
Main Points:
-
A new study says France will need up to 310,000 foreign workers by 2040 to meet job market needs.
-
Sectors like construction, healthcare, and farming are facing serious worker shortages.
-
Almost half of French citizens want zero immigration, which shows foreign workers may not be widely welcomed.
A recent study by the French think tank Terra Nova shows that France will need between 250,000 and 310,000 foreign workers by 2040 to keep its economy running well. With an aging population, the country needs more workers, especially from abroad, to fill the growing gaps in its workforce.
In 2022, about 331,000 immigrants came to France, and the demand for workers has stayed steady, meaning more will be needed in the coming years.
Immigrants Are Vital for France’s Key Sectors
Many sectors in France depend heavily on foreign workers, especially where local people don’t want to work. For example, 61% of healthcare workers in the Ile-de-France region (which includes Paris) are from outside France.
Other areas like construction, agriculture, and cleaning also rely on immigrants to fill jobs. Around 20% of doctors in French hospitals were trained abroad.
Public Opinion Is Still Divided
Even though the government highlights the need for foreign workers, many people in France don’t agree. A recent survey found that 48% of French people want zero immigration, an increase from past years.
The poll, done in November 2024, asked over 1,000 adults and found that women were slightly more likely to support zero immigration than men. People’s political beliefs played a big role too — left-wing voters mostly opposed the idea, while those on the right and far-right largely supported it.