Despite labor shortages, French bosses divided on hiring foreign workers

According to a survey by BPI France, the public investment bank, Barely a third of the owners of SMEs and medium-sized French companies say they are ready, over the next five years, to call on foreign labor from outside the European Union. Almost as many say they are simply unfavorable to this idea.

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However, the skills gaps are very important. It is estimated that by 2035, French industry will need half a million people. And this reluctance to hire foreign workers can already be seen very clearly today: only half of companies in the industrial sector have recruited one or more foreign workers these last months. In toother sectors, such as building or catering, foreign labor is on the other hand much more present.

Differences according to the sectors of activity

If manufacturers are so reluctant, it is not for a story of nationality, but rather for a story of skills, assure the business leaders interviewed. Most mention the language barrier, the administrative procedures involved – with in particular the processing times for obtaining authorizations – but also the distribution of foreign labor on the territory. THE Factories are often far from cities and towns, where foreign workers are most often found.

However, the government wants to encourage these hirings. There immigration law provides for the facilitation of procedures but also for the regularization of workers in sectors and professions in tension, in particular via the establishment of a specific residence permit. According to the Minister of Labour, Olivier Dussopt, these regularizations will mainly concern health, construction or even the hotel and catering industry, which today would not work without these foreign staff. Iindustry should also benefit.