A significant portion of immigrant workers were employed in security and guarding, construction, and the hotel and catering industry. Additionally, many foreigners worked as professionals in politics and the clergy, with foreign priests making up one in four in France.
While most of these occupations were low-skilled or relatively low-skilled, there were also specific medium or managerial roles in sectors experiencing labor shortages. The statistics highlight France's significant reliance on a foreign workforce in key sectors. However, migrant workers' contributions go beyond just filling labor shortages.
According to OECD estimates, the taxes and contributions paid by foreign workers in exchange for public benefits and services amount to 0.3 percent of GDP in France, and 0.9 percent of GDP on average across the OECD. Despite having a significant number of foreign workers, France may require an additional workforce due to ongoing labor shortages and an increasingly aging population.