“The word of the eco”, this week, it is labor immigration, subject of a note which does not go unnoticed, published this week by the Economic Analysis Council, a research organization attached to Matignon , a council made up of recognized professional economists. A place of reflection which seeks to highlight shared elements of analysis.
franceinfo: First shocking conclusion of this study: the immigrants present in France are on average less qualified, less geographically diversified, and proportionally less numerous than in other industrialized countries?
Raphaël Ebenstein: Almost 38% of immigrants residing in France have in any case an educational level lower than or just equal to the certificate of the colleges. This is twice as many as people born in France. Almost half of these immigrants were born in Africa, mainly in the countries of the Maghreb. And they represent less than 13% of the total population, compared to 16% in Germany or 21% in Canada.
A triple observation which leads the authors of the study to recommend in particular an increase in skilled labor immigration, the effects of which they consider to be very positive on the innovation capacities and the long-term economic growth of a country, comparisons international organizations based on the number of inventors or patents filed by immigrants …
Concretely, what does the Economic Analysis Council suggest to attract those it qualifies as talents from abroad?
His proposals are enough to provoke a certain number of political reactions, and no doubt also of controversy, since the main one consists in establishing a system of selection and quotas known in advance, drawing inspiration from what Canada is doing with its rankings by points, established on the basis of the level of diploma, the mastery of the language of the candidates for immigration, or their age.
Advantage, according to the authors of the study: this offers both a clear perspective to these candidates of whether or not to obtain a residence permit, and it also offers flexibility to the host country, depending on the estimated recruitment needs. in a particular sector, which may change from year to year. In short, the Economic Analysis Council calls for a fundamental reform of our migration policy …
Does this also concern the reception of foreign students?
Yes, the study recommends making France more attractive, especially for students from non-French speaking countries. Even if this could translate into more courses in English in our universities or grandes écoles.
The authors of the note are also in favor of administrative simplifications, for example for obtaining residence permits, and less restrictive criteria to be able to extend them for at least one year at the end of studies.
They nevertheless welcome the initiatives already taken by the public authorities, such as the creation of the “Bienvenue en France” label, intended to improve reception conditions for foreign students, but which is currently only applied by around a hundred students. institutions of higher education.