French Professionals Increasingly Emigrating for Better Opportunities Abroad
The rate of emigration among French engineers and highly skilled professionals continues to rise for the second consecutive year. Poor salary levels and career prospects are cited as primary drivers.
The emigration of French engineers and highly skilled professionals is continuing its upward trend for the second year in a row, according to the 2026 Expatriation and Brain Drain Barometer, a study by Ipsos in partnership with Fédération Syntec. Professionals in the mid-career stage are particularly seeking better career opportunities abroad that they are not finding within France.
Official data indicates that the proportion of active engineers working abroad reached 13% by the end of 2023, up from 12% in the previous year. By the end of 2024, an estimated 150,000 engineers are expected to be working internationally. While the rate for recent graduates remains stable at around 9%, the significant issue lies with the departure of foreign talents trained in France. Approximately 27% of foreign nationals educated in France leave the country upon graduation, representing an estimated annual loss of 2 billion euros in public education spending.
France is losing ground in the global competition for talent. Global student mobility increased by 17% in five years, yet France's standing as a destination for international students has dropped by two places to eighth. Only 33% of foreign students educated in France remain in the country after five years, compared to 52% in Canada and Germany, indicating a lower retention rate than key competitors.
The study suggests that the primary reason for departure is not a rejection of France as a living environment, but rather a lack of sufficient valorization of skills. The most significant factors that would encourage professionals to stay in France are notably higher net income (43% of respondents), improved career prospects (37%), and lower taxation (32%). The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is also seen as a potential draw, with over half (56%) viewing AI as a new professional opportunity.
In conclusion, the report highlights that France possesses strong fundamental assets for attracting and retaining talent, including high-quality education, a good quality of life, and social protection. However, the nation struggles to compete on salary levels, reflecting a gap in productivity. To regain its competitive edge in the global race for talent, France must prioritize increasing its economic output and wealth creation.