| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| ➡️ France updates its shortage occupations list for 2025, opening over 80 job roles to foreign workers. ➡️ The list simplifies work permits and supports the regularization of undocumented workers. ➡️ High-demand sectors include construction, healthcare, hospitality, agriculture, IT, and transportation. |
As labor shortages escalate across France, the government has officially released the France New Occupations List for Foreign Workers for 2025. This comprehensive update—published in the Official Journal—features over 80 critical job roles now accessible to foreign workers through streamlined immigration procedures.
This annual update, rooted in the 2024 immigration law, replaces the previous version from 2021 and is a key component of France’s evolving labor strategy. The revised list reflects France’s pressing need for skilled professionals to sustain its economy amid a rapidly aging population and sector-wide staffing gaps.
Key Sectors and Roles in the 2025 Shortage List
The updated list outlines both nationwide shortage sectors and region-specific demands. Here’s an overview of the most in-demand occupations:
Construction & Engineering
- Civil engineers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Pipe fitters (especially in Ile-de-France)
- Welders
Healthcare
- Nurses
- Caregivers
- Physiotherapists
- Veterinarians
Hospitality & Domestic Services
- Chefs
- Kitchen assistants
- Hotel staff
- Housekeepers
- Domestic employees
Agriculture
- Market gardeners
- Agricultural employees
- Horticulturists
Information Technology
- Software developers
- Data analysts
- Network engineers
- Telecommunications executives (Hauts-de-France)
Transportation & Logistics
- Truck drivers
- Bus drivers
- Logistics handlers
Manufacturing
- Machine operators
- Maintenance mechanics
- Welders
Region-Specific Needs Reflect Local Labor Gaps
In addition to nationwide sectors under strain, regional data now influences the list. For instance:
- Normandy requires land surveyors
- Ile-de-France needs pipe fitters
- Hauts-de-France is seeking telecom engineers and executives
This tailored approach helps ensure that regional economies get the specific talent they need.
Simplified Immigration and Regularization for Foreign Workers
Beyond just filling open roles, the 2025 shortage occupations list supports the legalization of undocumented foreign workers already employed in qualifying fields. This regularization process is particularly impactful for those in hospitality, agriculture, and domestic roles, offering them a pathway to lawful residency in France.
According to Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labor, Health, Solidarity, and Families, the list “addresses persistent recruitment difficulties while promoting the integration of people already present in our territory.”
Why France Is Prioritizing Foreign Workers Now
A recent study by the French think tank Terra Nova projects that France will need between 250,000 and 310,000 foreign workers in 2025 alone to maintain economic momentum. With demographic challenges and skilled labor shortages growing, immigration is no longer a policy preference—it’s an economic necessity.
Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, Minister of Labor and Employment, emphasized that the list is “the result of an in-depth and attentive social dialogue” and is designed to align labor market demands with economic and human priorities.
Opportunities for Skilled Migrants in France
The France New Occupations List for Foreign Workers is more than just a labor policy—it’s an open invitation to skilled professionals worldwide. Whether you’re in construction, IT, healthcare, or hospitality, France is creating new pathways for legal work and residency.
For international job seekers and employers alike, 2025 presents a moment of opportunity in one of Europe’s leading economies.