A recent study by a think tank in France found that the country needs between 250,000 and 310,000 workers from abroad by 2040, in order for the economy to be maintained.
According to the study published by Terra Nova, France is dealing with an aging population, and immigration is crucial for the country’s economic growth, Schengen.News reports.
The report reveals that by 2022, France received about 331,000 immigrants, and the market demands remain more or less in the same rate, indicating that France will need more workers in the future.
France Is Reliant on Immigrants, Especially in Sectors With Labour Shortages
Foreign workers play a crucial role in many sectors, especially those struggling to recruit local workers, and remain dependent on labour immigration.
One of these sectors is the healthcare sector, as 61 per cent of workers in the Ile-de-France region – the country’s one of, if not most important regions in the country are foreigners.
Other sectors, such as construction, agriculture, and cleaning, are also experiencing labor shortages that cannot be addressed without the authorities turning to immigration. About 20 per cent of the doctors offering their services in the French institutions are believed to be foreign graduates.
This highlights that labour shortages are worsening and that a steady flow of foreign workers can help to avoid jeopardising economic growth.
The French Do Not See an Urgent Need to Bring in Foreign Workers
Despite reports and the authorities frequently reminding French citizens that the country needs more foreign workers, they do not think the matter is as urgent as it appears.
According to a poll by the CSA institute for the JDD, Europe 1, and CNews, 48 per cent of the respondents support zero immigration in France, also showing an increase of seven per cent of French citizens supporting this campaign compared to 2021.
Men were more likely to reject the idea of zero immigration, about 55 per cent of them, while 53 per cent of women were in favor of it.
The study was conducted in November 2024 and included a total of 1,011 respondents aged 18 and over. Criteria such as gender, age, occupation, and region were taken into account for this study.
Political views and beliefs of respondents impacted the result greatly, with left-wing respondents being likely to reject the zero immigration campaign, while right-wing and far-right voters supported the campaign largely.