310,000 Nurses, Tradespeople, and Professionals Needed in France by 2025

France is facing a significant labor shortage, with estimates indicating the country will need between 250,000 and 310,000 foreign workers annually by 2040 to sustain its economic activity.

The demand spans key sectors such as healthcare, construction, agriculture, and cleaning services, where shortages have become increasingly persistent. In the healthcare sector, the reliance on foreign workers is especially pronounced. In the Île-de-France region alone, 61% of healthcare professionals are foreign nationals, while 20% of doctors in public hospitals received their training abroad.

The construction industry and agriculture sector are also experiencing critical gaps, particularly in manual and seasonal labor roles. To help address these shortages, France has implemented several immigration and work visa pathways to attract foreign talent. These include options for highly skilled professionals, individuals with confirmed job offers in specific sectors, and seasonal laborers, as well as intra-company transfers and high-wage roles under the EU Blue Card program. Despite the clear economic necessity, public opinion in France remains deeply divided on the issue of immigration.

A CSA poll from November 2024 found that 48% of French citizens support a zero-immigration policy—an increase from previous years. This tension between labor market demands and public sentiment continues to pose a challenge for policymakers as they work to balance economic needs with societal concerns.