The Paris labour market
Over and above its rich history and culture, Paris also offers incredible professional opportunities. If you've always dreamt of living and working in the French capital, here's what you need to know about its job market.
The local economy
In 2021, Paris contributed to almost 30% of France's GDP. The Parisian economy is mainly based on the service and commercial sector, with several large French businesses headquartered in the capital. Banking and insurance, energy, food, luxury goods, technology, media, telecommunications, entertainment and transportation are some of the city's main economic pillars. As you might expect, tourism plays a very important role in the economy, with more than 77% of companies engaged in the service and trade sector. For some time now, startups have also been budding all over the city thanks to the dynamic and promising platform it offers for new businesses and innovation.
Employment in Paris
Although France is a cultural and financial powerhouse, the unemployment rate in Paris and its suburbs is relatively high, especially among young people. Expatriates are in demand for high-level profiles, including executive positions, specialized consultants, finance professionals, project managers, technical experts and R&D specialists. Particularly attractive fields for those seeking work in Paris include:
- Financial, banking and insurance sectors
- Scientific and technical services
- Pharmaceutical production
- Large-scale distribution and luxury goods
- Information and communication technology
- High volume data management
- Energy
- Aerospace
- Tourism
Finding a job in Paris
Looking to work in Paris? There is a whole range of services available to you! For starters, job boards allow you to fine-tune your search in Paris and provide a good preliminary overview of job opportunities. For more specific or niche jobs, contact one of the many headhunters operating in Paris. Headhunters are a great way to make initial contact, as Paris operates extensively through word of mouth and networking. You can also use websites dedicated to professionals and temp agencies. If you are in Paris or can get downtown, try to attend one of the professional conferences or networking events that are held there regularly. It is generally a great way to touch base and get to know people.
