Report Raises the Alarm France Faces Labour Crisis, Needs to Recruit over 25,000 Workers Yearly

A new report from the French think tank Terra Nova has sounded the alarm on the country’s looming labor crisis, warning that France will need to recruit between 250,000 and 310,000 foreign workers each year by 2040 to meet growing labor market demands. The report highlights the country’s aging population and shrinking pool of active workers, leaving France increasingly reliant on immigration to maintain its economic output and essential services.

According to the report, sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, construction, and cleaning services are already struggling to fill vacancies with local workers. In Paris and the surrounding Ile-de-France region, a staggering 61% of healthcare workers are foreign nationals, and 20% of doctors practicing in public hospitals received their medical training abroad.

The construction and agricultural sectors are also grappling with persistent shortages in manual and seasonal labor, leaving key infrastructure and food supply chains vulnerable.

The demand for foreign workers is not limited to low-wage or manual roles, with France also seeking skilled workers in technology and engineering, offering attractive salaries and long-term opportunities to those willing to relocate.

The report identifies the following top roles in demand, along with average annual salaries:

•Health (Nurses & General Practitioners): €30,000 – €80,000

•Construction (Electricians, Plumbers, Laborers): €25,000 – €40,000

•Agriculture (Pickers, Harvesters): €20,000 – €28,000

•Cleaning Services (Janitors, Housekeepers): €18,000 – €25,000

•IT (Developers, Engineers): €40,000 – €70,000

To facilitate the influx of needed workers, France has developed multiple visa pathways designed to attract both skilled professionals and seasonal laborers. These include:

•Talent Passport (Passeport Talent): A long-term residence permit for highly skilled professionals, including engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and artists, with validity up to four years.

•Employee Visa: Designed for individuals with a confirmed job offer in France, particularly relevant in sectors like construction, healthcare, and hospitality.

•Seasonal Worker Visa: Grants foreign nationals temporary work authorization in agriculture or tourism for up to six months per year.

•Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa: For multinational companies transferring employees to French branches.

•EU Blue Card: Aimed at highly educated professionals, this card allows non-EU nationals to work and live in France (and other EU countries) under favorable conditions.

However, the issue of immigration remains a contentious one in France, with public opinion sharply divided. According to a CSA poll from November 2024, 48% of French citizens support a zero-immigration policy, a significant jump from 41% in 2021.

Interestingly, 55% of men oppose such strict limits, while 53% of women support them. The issue also breaks sharply along political lines, with left-wing voters more welcoming of immigration and far-right voters strongly opposed.

As France grapples with the challenges of an aging population and a shrinking workforce, the country’s reliance on foreign labor is likely to continue.

Whether the government can balance the need for immigration with the concerns of its citizens remains to be seen.