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On social networks, several Internet users exhibit in comments than immigrants do not come to work in France. But is this the reality?
On social networks, comments about immigration are expressed in these terms: “Working immigration is derisory compared to family reunification” or “the vast majority of immigrants do not come to work…”. Is this reality? What do we know about immigrant work? Since the beginning of 20th century, France experienced strong immigration after the World Wars. These immigrants are mostly male and come to work.
In the 2000s, France experienced a new phase of increased immigration, which was no longer just due to work. There is now family reunification, the development of student exchanges and the creation of the Schengen area. In 2019, a third of the reasons for granting a residence permit were for family reasons, another third for students. 14% titles were issued for reasons economical, but it does not mean that they will work. Immigrants have a lower employment rate than non-immigrants. In 2020, 59% of immigrants had a job, against 66% non-immigrants. The unemployment rate is therefore higher.
“They are ultimately much more vulnerable to the vagaries of the economy, since it is often unskilled jobs that are the first jobs lost when there are economic crises”says Matthew Tardismigration specialist at the French Institute of International Relations. Thus, regardless of the administrative reason for his immigration, this does not mean that an immigrant does not aspire to find a job.