Doha – A new study by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) shows 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 reveals that 52% of immigrants aged 25 and over who entered France in 2023 held university degrees, up from 41% in 2006. Meanwhile, the percentage without qualifications dropped from 30% to 22%.
The Maghreb countries registered the strongest progression in the proportion of graduates, with a striking 25-point jump in university-educated immigrants between 2006 and 2023. Today, half of all African immigrants arriving in France possess higher education credentials, compared to fewer than one-third in 2006.
The study also documents a major shift in immigration sources. Africa has replaced Europe as the main continent of origin, now accounting for 45% of all immigrant entries to France in 2023, versus just 28% from Europe. In 2006, these proportions were nearly reversed at 31% and 44% respectively.
Read also: Report: Moroccans Remain Top Foreign Student Community in France
Overall immigration to France has climbed steadily, with arrivals increasing from 234,000 in 2006 to 347,000 in 2023. The report tracks how immigration flows reflected various global events, including economic downturns, geopolitical tensions, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Morocco and Algeria maintain their positions among the top three source countries for new immigrants to France. On average, 15% of all immigrant entries each year involve people born in one of these two Maghreb countries.
The gender balance has shifted slightly but women still predominate. Female immigrants represented 51% of newcomers to France in 2023, down from 53% in 2006.
On the employment front, about one in three new immigrants aged 15 or older finds work within their first year in France. This rate has remained relatively stable between 2006 and 2023.
The employment gap between men and women has narrowed considerably, shrinking 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, due to improved language skills, better understanding of the French job market, completion of studies, and development of professional networks.
