France Lists Top Jobs in Demand for Foreign Workers in 2025

France has published its updated list of high-demand occupations, allowing easier legalisation of foreign workers in nearly 80 professions. The list, published in the Official Journal, includes positions in home care, agriculture, catering, and construction.

What Does the New Occupation List Mean?

Foreign workers in occupations on the shortage list can now apply for legal status in France, even if they initially entered irregularly. According to Schengen.News, key sectors include:

Construction and civil engineering

Farming, gardening, and horticulture

Elder care, cooks, housekeepers, kitchen aides

Domestic help and cleaning

Hotel and restaurant jobs

This reform simplifies the recruitment process for employers and enables undocumented migrants in eligible roles to regularise their stay.

Business Sectors Welcome the Change

Industry groups welcomed the publication. Franck Trouet, General Delegate of the Hotel and Restaurant Association (GHR), told ICI:

“It’s progress. But there are gaps — in Paris, cooks are included, but kitchen assistants, dishwashers, and waiters are not.”

According to France Travail, the hospitality sector alone needs around 336,000 workers in 2025, with half of vacancies proving difficult to fill.

France Needs Over 300,000 Foreign Workers a Year

A recent report by think tank Terra Nova found that France needs 250,000–310,000 new migrants annually to maintain its economy amid an ageing population.

In 2022, France admitted around 331,000 immigrants. While labour market needs remain steady, immigration is increasingly vital to economic resilience.

The government had previously launched reforms to accelerate the legalisation of international workers in key occupations.