If you are considering moving to France, perhaps moving to Toulouse is not the first option that pops into your head. However, if the laissez-faire lifestyle offered by France sounds like something that you would want to explore, you would be happy to know that there are plenty of expat jobs available in Toulouse.
Contrary to what you might initially think, Toulouse or the “Ville Rose” is attracting many different residents across France, including many from Paris. The reason for it is not just the natural splendour of the city, but also because of the international companies based in Toulouse. The metropolis of Toulouse is home to around 1.2 million people. This makes it the fourth largest city in France only behind Marseille, Lyon, and Paris.

A fast-growing local economy

One of the reasons that moving to Toulouse makes sense as someone interested in employment is because of the tremendous economic growth the area has had. In fact, between 2003 and 2013 Toulouse saw an increase in its GDP per capita of 31.6 percent. This is larger than any city in France at that time.
The reason behind the booming economy is the collection of aviation and aerospace companies based in Toulouse. Many of these companies can be found in Aerospace Valley, located on the outskirts of the city. Dassault Aviation, Air France Industries, and Airbus to name a few. In fact, when looking at the job market in Toulouse, around 120,000 jobs around Toulouse are attributed to the aviation and aerospace sectors.
Those considering moving to France immediately for fear of being late have nothing to worry about. In fact, Aerospace Valley is expected to create 40,000 new jobs in the next two decades. Part of the reason behind this is the fact that the city has renowned engineering schools and universities, like Toulouse Business School and The University of Toulouse producing a large number of graduates.

A skills shortage

Even though France has the second largest economy in the European Union, there is a mismatch between the skills available in the workforce and companies’ needs. Specific sectors that need qualified workers but are unable to fill vital vacancies include engineering, health, and IT. Having experience in these sectors is going to make a tremendous difference in your likelihood of securing a position.

Moving to France

Given that Brexit has caused an uncertain position in the UK, the thought of moving to Toulouse to further your career might sound appealing. If you are a UK resident, consider that you are going to have to think about a possible work permit.

Not just aviation and aerospace

Even though Aerospace Valley certainly does add a great deal of job prospects for those moving to Toulouse, it is important to note that this is not the only type of job that you can get. There are many other opportunities in the area, to know more read our city guide to Toulouse here.
If you’re moving to France, find out how our international removals team can help to arrange packing, storage and transportation on your behalf.