Several key sectors in France, including catering, road transport, installation and maintenance, and medicine-surgery, have seen growth exceeding 0.5% since 2019. A significant number of workers in these industries are coming from Maghreb countries, further contributing to the country's workforce.
According to earlier reports, France is projected to face a substantial labor gap, with the MEDEF Employers’ Federation estimating a need for 3.9 million workers by 2050. Recent data from the Interior Ministry reveals that 320,000 first-time residence permits were issued to non-European immigrants in 2023, a 1.4% increase from the previous year. Notably, 54,000 of these permits were granted for economic reasons, reflecting a 5% rise compared to 2022.
In 2021, one in ten workers in France was a foreigner, with the ratio climbing to one in four in specific sectors like domestic services, security, and construction. In household employment alone, foreign workers accounted for 40% of the workforce. Many immigrant workers are also heavily represented in the security, construction, hotel, and catering industries, highlighting their critical role in addressing France's labor shortages.