Hire in France
France is the seventh-largest economy in the world and the third-largest economy in Europe as per the data available for the year 2020. It enjoys a free market developed economy dominated by the services sector. It is the only country that received the largest Foreign Direct Investment from investors across the world and was also visited by the most tourists in the world in 2019. The key industries in France include the energy, tourism, and services sectors. There are a lot of job opportunities that are available for expats in France across multiple sectors.
The emerging sectors like space research and development, information technology, and health services offer numerous job opportunities and help boost the employment rates in the country. The tourism sector also offers a lot of job opportunities as France is a popular destination amongst tourists. France also attracts professionals in engineering, science, and medical professionals from all over the world.
Overview of France
France has a diversified and highly developed free-market economy. As of 2021, France is the seventh-largest economy in the world in terms of nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The service sector dominates the economy with a huge share of 78.8% of the GDP, followed by the industrial sector with a 19.5% share.
Total Population - 64,881,830 people (2024)
GDP - $3,614.63 billion (2024 estimate)
Economic Overview
France’s GDP has been growing at an annual rate of 6%, and it has reached a valuation of US $2598.91 billion.
Market Size
The COVID-19 pandemic has specifically affected the services sector of France, including the tourism industry, educational sector, and other technical services industries. Finance, health services, research sectors, and IT sectors are now the emerging sectors in the market.
A brief glimpse of the industries
- The French Finance sector has not been affected by the pandemic and employs around 13% of the workforce. The banking sector is one of the main employers of the country. 4.0% of the total GDP was contributed by the financial sector in 2019.
- The tourism industry is one of the most prominent industries in France. This industry itself provides around 2.9 million direct and indirect jobs that contribute to 10.9% employment and represents 9.7% of GDP. The pandemic has deeply affected this sector as the number of tourists dropped to 35% from the 2019 levels. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is trying to support this industry with innovative measures.
- The energy sector is one of the most important sectors of France. It is the largest exporter of electricity and it generates a profit of around 3 billion Euros for the economy, due to the low cost of power generation. The country is also investing heavily in the development of nuclear technology.
- Another major industry is the agriculture sector. France is the world’s sixth-largest producer of grains and produces wheat, maize, and barley. They also rank second in the world in terms of agriculture exports. The major agricultural exports include beef, pork, wheat, poultry, and dairy products.
Cost of Living in France
France is the 16th best country to live in the world and currently ranks 31st in terms of cost of living in the world. It is one of the most beautiful countries and offers an excellent quality of life to its residents. Some cities in France offer an affordable cost of living even though the country is overall expensive in terms of cost of living. Montpellier and Versailles are the cheapest cities whereas Paris is the most expensive city. The country also accommodates many students from different parts of the world.
| Category |
Area of expense |
Estimated cost |
Range |
| Utilities |
Electricity, Water, Heating, Internet services, Prepaid mobile tariff |
$216.69 (179.12€) |
US $145-357 |
| Rental rates |
Apartment (1 room) in city and outside city,
Apartment (2-3 rooms) In the city and outside the city.
|
$797.92 (672.11€) (In the city)
$608.64 (512.68€) (Outside City)
$1480.64 (1247.17€) (In City)
$1148.22 (967.17€)
(Outside City)
|
US $581-1464.5
US $415-1068
US $949.7-3394.9
US $771-2164.2
|
| Transportation Cost |
One way ticket local transport, Taxi tariff, Gasoline. |
$11.7 (9.93€) |
US $10-17 |
| Food and Beverage |
Grocery, Vegetables, Meat and Poultry |
$38.33 (32.29€) |
US $37-43 |
| Salaries and Financing |
Average monthly net salary
Interest rates
|
$2691.44 (2267.04€)
1.50%
|
1.00-2.50%
|
Salary structure for various roles
The table below highlights the average salaries that are offered to employees in France according to different sectors: -
| Business Sector |
Average Annual Salary (EURO) |
Average Annual Salary (USD) |
| Education and Training |
52,600€ |
$62,453 |
| Information Media and Telecommunications |
49,800€ |
$59,128 |
| Construction |
32,400€ |
$38,469 |
| Manufacturing |
33,800€ |
$40,131 |
| Retail Trade |
$2,06,000 HKD |
$1,584,615.38 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services |
66,400€ |
$78,838 |
| Financial and Insurance Services |
53,900€ |
$63,996 |
| Wholesale Trade |
54,100€ |
$64,234 |
| Transport, Postal, Warehousing |
76,200€ |
$90,474 |
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services |
22,800€ |
$27,057 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance |
74,000€ |
$87,818 |
| Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants |
33,000€ |
$39,181 |
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services |
43,000€ |
$51,029 |
| Arts and Recreation Services |
40,400€ |
$47,944 |
| Public Administration and Safety |
21,800€ |
$25,870 |
Cost of Renting in France
The cost of living on rent in France depends on the location and the size of the house. A one-bedroom apartment may cost you about 672.11€ ($797.9 USD), depending upon the area. The rent can increase or decrease based on the facilities available.
The top sectors that are expected to hire in 2024 in France are: -
| S. No. |
Top Industries Looking to Hire |
| 1 |
Professional services and IT sector |
| 2 |
Construction Industry |
| 3 |
Research and Development |
| 4 |
Health and Technology |
| 5 |
Medical Sector |
| 6 |
Professional Services |
| 7 |
Food and Accommodation Sector |
| 8 |
Electrical Services |
| 9 |
Energy Sector |
| 10 |
Tourism Sector |
Top skills in France
France has a free-market economy dominated by the services sector. The main industries include the energy sector and agricultural sector. Other new emerging sectors include Research and Development and Health and Technology. Consequently, the country is looking to hire skilled and highly qualified professionals trained in various essential skills. From electricians to research scientists, there are a lot of job openings available for the citizens as well as for the immigrants.
Major skills and areas which witnessed a recent growth rate
- Health and Social Care
- Graphic Design
- Manufacturing
- Research and Development
- Health and Technology
- Professional Services (IT and Science)
- Food and Accommodation
Top skills city-wise occupation-wise
Even though there are lots of opportunities widely open in France, each region prefers certain jobs. Every city in France has its qualities, making them unique and suitable for certain industries/sectors. France is the most favorite spot of tourists and offers job openings in different regions of the country.
- Grand Est- Around 5.5 million people inhabit this region. The main three sectors of recruiting are mechanics, maintenance technicians, and customer advisors. Other sectors that offer jobs include construction, automobiles, and sales.
- Ile-de-France- This greater Paris region of Ile-de-France usually offers the highest employment opportunities in France. This region has a population of around 12 million people. The jobs in demand include teachers, administrative assistants, health care professionals, electricians, and sales professionals.
- Paris - It is the most important city in France and is the most expensive place in the country due to its popularity among tourists. The main job openings in Paris are in the banking and insurance sector, IT and telecommunications, automobiles, energy sector, and media. There are also good opportunities in the luxury goods and cosmetics industry as well.
Hiring Cost
The cost of hiring employees is essential for employers who are looking to conduct a recruitment drive. Some of the factors that must be considered while hiring new personnel are:
- Onboarding and training
- Interviews and hiring processes
- Time and resources invested
Employment laws in France
The French Labor Code legislates employment relationships. The code ensures a good level of protection for all employees. They have fixed working hours, and penalty rates are fixed irrespective of the industries. The French Labor Code regulates the following employment aspects:
- Maximum 35 hours per week
- Indefinite term contracts
- Use of French Language is mandatory
- Workplace Surveillance
- Paid and Unpaid Leave
- Termination of Employment
The laws and regulations that govern the employment relationships in France are based upon
- Legislation
- Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Social Security Laws
How Can Skuad Help You with Hiring in France?
When you are looking to hire the most talented professionals in France, be prepared for a long and tiresome process that will take considerable time and investment on your part. However, with Skuad as your partner, the complexities of hiring in France are taken care of, leaving your organization to focus on its core business activities. With an experienced team of industry experts, Skuad offers one-stop solutions for all your recruitment requirements. Connect with Skuad Experts to know more.
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