The landlocked European country of Luxembourg has a much stronger position in Europe and internationally than its size might suggest. It’s one of the three official capitals of the EU and home of the European Court of Justice. Bordered by Belgium, France and Germany, it holds a convenient position for international companies looking for a base in Europe. Its position and history also make it a real melting pot of European cultures, which can be seen in its architecture, people and languages.
Many areas in Luxembourg offer an element of rural living with plenty of forests and parks to explore. The famous medieval old town in Luxembourg City, is a popular attraction for visitors and residents alike. Given its location, international appeal and multicultural vibe, it’s not surprising that there is a big community of foreign workers in the country. This includes those who hop borders for work from one of the surrounding countries, as well as expats from all over the world.

The job market

Luxembourg has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world, low inflation and a solid economic growth. It also has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. It’s no wonder that British expats are drawn to these financial advantages.
There are a few sectors that are particularly booming. Finance is the leading sector and with around 150 banks based in the country, is a significant employer of expat workers. Luxembourg is also positioning itself to be a key beneficiary of Brexit, with the likelihood of some City based jobs moving in its direction.
The country’s second growth sector of note is technology and communications. Big names like Skype and Amazon have based their European operations out of Luxembourg, helping the country to develop a reputation as one of Europe’s tech hubs. This strong presence of multi-nationals creates a vibrant expat community and opens the door for inter-country transfers for those looking to be at the centre of Europe.
Expats will generally need to offer a professional or specialised trade or skill that fills a gap in the jobs market at that time. Many British workers will already have a job before relocating, but it is also possible to look for a job in Luxembourg after choosing the country as a new home, or for family members also moving abroad.

Employment support

Luckily, for those looking for job opportunities in Luxembourg, there is a lot of support available. If you have already relocated and have a residence permit, it’s possible to register with the Agency for the Development of Employment (Agence pour le développement de l’emploi) who can help with a work search, though applicants should be willing to accept any appropriate job offer.
For those who haven’t made the move yet, the best starting point is the online job boards and recruitment agencies, two job boards to get started with are Monster.lu and Jobs.lu. It’s worth researching these before relocation to hit the ground running after the move. Word of mouth is particularly useful in expat circles, as this can reveal job opportunities. Networking is also key, so it’s worth setting up meetings or researching relevant networking events in advance.
One thing to bear in mind is that, given Luxembourg’s location, speaking more than one European language offers a significant advantage. It is difficult to land jobs with just English alone, although it is widely spoken. There are three official languages: German, French and Luxembourgish. Ideally, a level of fluency in at least one of these as well as English will help when looking for jobs.