1. Accueil / 2. English articles / 3. France Struggles to Attract Foreign Workers -- France Struggles to Attract Foreign Workers Les migrations professionnelles en France -- -- Jeudi 30 Novembre 2017 Though the 2015 European refugee crisis had the merit of sparking widespread debate across Europe on the role of migrants in society, media coverage created the false impression asylum seekers were the central issue when it comes to immigration. -- -- populations, a major concern among policy makers across the West is not those fleeing war-torn zones but rather how to attract economic migrants, be it for seasonal or highly-skilled jobs. France is no exception to this. As the OECD details in its new report -- -- France is no exception to this. As the OECD details in its new report it presented at France Stratégie on November 20, the country has made it a priority since the turn of the century to bring in foreign workers to bolster its job market. -- -- work. By comparison, 45% of immigrants to the UK and 37% to Spain from third countries in 2015 entered for work purposes, while the figures were lower for Germany (10%) and Italy (14%).[1] -- -- lower for Germany (10%) and Italy (14%).[1] “France doesn’t have a clear objective where economic migrants are concerned,” said Jean-Christophe Dumont, head of the International Migration Division at the OECD. He pointed to Canada, an oft-cited -- -- over the medium to long term – to at least 2036 – to meet the challenges posed by an ageing population (it had close to 60% of its immigrants enter for work reasons in 2016, according to the Canadian Ministry for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship). -- -- Perhaps not surprisingly given France’s colonial past, close to 40% of immigrants enter the country to join family members (almost half of these come from just three former colonies – Algeria, Morocco and -- these come from just three former colonies – Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). The authors point out that these migrants and residents from the EU contribute at least twice and up to four times as much, respectively, to the job market as do those who migrate for work. -- -- Requests are dealt with by each department (the administrative equivalent to a county), where there is limited ability to evaluate foreign credentials. This is compounded by a lack of guidance from Paris, limited coordination on a national level and a dearth of evaluation criteria in the labour code. -- -- Regionalisation also has a clear impact on seasonal entrants, with mainly agricultural workers targeted in a few select regions, even though there are labour needs in other sectors across the country. -- -- A promising new permit Despite its success with students – close to a third of foreigners who come to pursue degrees remain in France after completing their education, one of the highest levels among OECD countries – the country -- -- come to pursue degrees remain in France after completing their education, one of the highest levels among OECD countries – the country clearly has difficulty attracting foreign workers. This is particularly the case for those with advanced degrees. The report states that while -- the case for those with advanced degrees. The report states that while France is the second destination for potential migrants on the whole, it drops to eighth place behind countries like the US, Canada and the -- it drops to eighth place behind countries like the US, Canada and the UK when it comes to highly educated migrants. To make up for this, France has merged several work permits into one -- -- To make up for this, France has merged several work permits into one for highly-skilled workers. Known as Passeport talent, this new permit extends the duration of residence to four years for ten categries of -- extends the duration of residence to four years for ten categries of labour migrants. Foreigners who have obtained an advanced degree in France are also eligible for the card. -- -- Though its impact is hard to determine, the report highlights the permit could go far to increasing France’s attractiveness for foreign workers, provided the government backs and promotes it sufficiently. More specifically, as it isn’t granted at the regional level but instead by consulates (and prefectures for job changes), its success -- -- instead by consulates (and prefectures for job changes), its success will also ride on coordinating inter-ministerial policy, raising awareness among employers and putting them in touch with foreign talent. __________________________________________________________________ -- -- Sur le même sujet Événement - Le recrutement des travailleurs immigrés, l’exemple français Tous nos travaux sur :