Population and employment: contrasting changes on both sides of the borders

Between 2013 and 2019, the population changed in very different ways in the foreign territories situated along French borders, increasing significantly in Luxembourg and Switzerland, but to a far lesser extent in Italy and Spain. In Belgium and Germany, the trends were similar to those in France.

Between 2013 and 2018, on the foreign side, demographic growth was mainly linked to the arrival of new residents. On the French side, the natural balance is always positive, supported by apparent positive net migration in regions close to Switzerland, Spain and Italy, and moderated by migration loss along the borders with Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.

Most of foreign border regions benefitted from a positive dynamic both in terms of employment and population between 2011 and 2016. This was also the case for a majority of French border departments, despite employment dynamics that were often less favourable than on the foreign side, especially along the borders with Belgium and Luxembourg.

In 2016, 75% of people in employment were working in the tertiary sector in French and foreign border regions. Industry represented, on average, for 15% of jobs, construction 6% and agriculture 2%.