Educated immigrants reshape France's demographic landscape

A new study by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) reveals that immigrants arriving in France are more educated than ever, with those from North Africa leading a remarkable leap in educational attainment.

The INSEE data, released on Thursday, tracks immigration patterns from 2006 to 2023. It indicates that 52% of immigrants aged 25 and over who entered France in 2023 held university degrees, a significant increase from 41% in 2006. Concurrently, the percentage of immigrants without qualifications dropped from 30% to 22%.

The Maghreb countries exhibited the most substantial progress in the proportion of graduates, with a notable 25-point increase in university-educated immigrants over the same period. Currently, half of all African immigrants arriving in France possess higher education credentials, compared to fewer than one-third in 2006.

Additionally, the study highlights a significant shift in the sources of immigration. Africa has supplanted Europe as the primary continent of origin, now constituting 45% of all immigrant entries to France in 2023, compared to just 28% from Europe. In 2006, these figures were nearly reversed at 31% and 44%, respectively.

Overall immigration to France has consistently risen, with arrivals increasing from 234,000 in 2006 to 347,000 in 2023. The report illustrates how immigration flows have mirrored various global events, including economic downturns, geopolitical tensions, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morocco and Algeria continue to rank among the top three source countries for new immigrants to France. Annually, approximately 15% of all immigrant entries involve individuals born in one of these two Maghreb nations.

The gender balance has also experienced slight changes; women still predominated among newcomers, representing 51% of immigrants in 2023, down from 53% in 2006.

On the employment front, about one in three new immigrants aged 15 or older secures work within their first year in France. This rate has remained relatively stable from 2006 to 2023. Notably, the employment gap between men and women has narrowed significantly, decreasing from 20 percentage points in 2006 to just 13 points for recent arrivals since 2021.

The INSEE report concludes that employment prospects for immigrants tend to improve with their duration of stay in France, attributed to enhanced language skills, a better understanding of the French job market, completion of studies, and the development of professional networks.