Economy
France has a diverse economy and wide variety of industries for those planning to work in France. France is a leading industrialized country with a mature and sophisticated market economy. The World Bank (2011) ranked the country’s economy fifth in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $2.7 trillion. France ranked twenty-second on the Legatum Institute Economy Sub-Index (2013) out of 142 countries studied.
France has substantial agricultural resources, a large industrial base and a highly skilled work force. Its services sector accounts for an increasingly large share of economic activity and has been responsible for nearly all job creation in recent years. France has been very successful in developing its telecommunications, aerospace and weapons industry sectors. Over 25 percent of the growth in the French economy has been attributable to Internet-related products and services. The European Union is France’s most important trading partner. France is the second-largest trading nation in Western Europe, after Germany. The country ranks sixth in the world for both imports and exports of goods and services, importing over US$659 billion and exporting over US$578 billion.
Like most European Union nations, France’s economy has struggled since the worldwide economic downturn began in 2008. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts a GDP growth rate of just 0.1 percent in 2013. The unemployment rate has increased from 2012 to 10.6 percent and is forecast to top 11 percent in 2013. Inflation remains low at 0.3 percent.
Finding a Job
Although the unemployment rate is high in the country, job opportunities are numerous in specific economic sectors, such as accounting, management, bilingual secretarial services, hotel and catering, construction, information technology and foreign language teaching.
Finding a job in France requires diligence and hard work for most expats. For most, language skill can be an obstacle to finding work in France. Most employers will not hire someone who is not fluent in French. In general, the French business culture is conservative. Employers are very particular about hiring, searching for just the right person. Some jobs, however, are great for an expat, like language teaching, where a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification can be very helpful. Job search strategies in France are similar to the U.S. You can send unsolicited applications, use the Internet, visit temporary work or staffing agencies online or onsite, contact the French national employment agency, contact pan-European employment groups like EURES and read job advertisements in the free, traditional or specialized press. Free sites like Craigslist France and Jobs.com also are a good bet.
In France, the public agency Agence Nationale pour l’Emploi (ANPE) may be able to offer assistance. The agency is under the Minister for Labor and is responsible for helping those seeking employment, training or career guidance. If you are fluent in French, Pôle emploi is the national employment agency that connects people seeking employment and employers.
If you are looking for temporary employment, it is helpful to know that some of the major international temporary work and staffing agencies are also established in France including Adecco, Manpower, Kelly Services and Randstad.
To get you started, here are a few websites that may help you in your job search:
Monster
Keljob