France Publishes 2025 List of In-Demand Jobs for Foreign Workers

The French government has officially released its updated list of shortage occupations for 2025 in the Journal Officiel, allowing foreign nationals working in certain roles to apply for regularisation.

Government Aims to Fill Labour Gaps in Key Sectors

In its statement, the government said the revised list is intended to better address workforce shortages in crucial sectors. Depending on the region, the list includes:

• Construction and public works professionals
• Salaried farmers, market gardeners, and horticulturists
• Home care workers, kitchen staff, cleaners, and cooks
• Domestic helpers and maintenance personnel
• Hospitality industry workers

These updates are part of broader efforts to simplify the recruitment process for foreign talent and offer a legal pathway to regularisation for undocumented workers already employed in these fields.

Positive Response From Industry Leaders

Industry leaders welcomed the publication of the updated list. Franck Trouet, General Delegate of the Hotel and Restaurant Association (GHR), told ICI that the sector has been waiting months for these changes.

“We acknowledge the pressures our sector faces. This is a step forward, though there are some gaps—such as the omission of assistant cooks and waitstaff in Paris.”

According to France Travail, the hospitality industry alone is expected to need around 336,000 new employees in 2025, with half of those positions difficult to fill.

France Will Require Over 300,000 Foreign Workers to Sustain Economy

Earlier this month, a study by French think tank Terra Nova warned that France will need between 250,000 and 310,000 additional foreign workers to maintain its economic output in 2024 and beyond.

Due to an aging population and stagnant labour participation, immigration is seen as a key solution. France welcomed around 331,000 immigrants in 2022, a figure that may need to increase in coming years to meet labour demands.

Recent Immigration Reforms Support Faster Processing

The French government recently introduced new immigration rules designed to support legal employment for foreign workers in high-demand jobs. The changes aim to streamline the residence permit process for skilled professionals working in shortage occupations, enabling faster regularisation and improved integration into the labour market.