The proportion of French professionals and managers working across the border is increasing, according to the Association for the Employment of Professionals and Managers (Association Pour l’Emploi des Cadres, APEC).  The association revealed in a report that as many as 46,000 professionals and managers live in France and work in neighbouring countries: primarily in Switzerland (54%), Luxemburg (17%), Germany (13%), Monaco (9%) and Belgium (7%)

As many as 60% of the professionals commuting to Switzerland from France work in Sales, Transports and Services sectors (commerce, transports et services divers); while 26% work in the industrial sector. The remaining professional commuters split between Public services, health and social care (11%) and construction (3%). The Sales, Transports and Services sectors are clearly the largest employers for trans-border commuters, followed by the Industrial sector.

In Luxemburg, the proportion of trans-border professionals working in the Sales, Transports and Services sectors reaches 77%, compared to 69% in Monaco, 55% in Belgium and 41% in Germany. The proportion of trans-border professionals working in the Industrial sector is higher in Germany (40%), Belgium (27%), Switzerland (26%), Luxemburg and Monaco (14%).

Trans-border commuting to Belgium, Germany and Luxemburg attracts mainly blue collar workers and arguably helped balancing the loss of industrial jobs in the French north-eastern regions. Interestingly, the report also highlights that Belgium has seen the proportion of professionals and managers increase sharply compared to blue collar workers between 1999 (18%) and 2007 (25%).

To read the full report in French, click here:

http://jd.apec.fr/Emploi-stage/content/download/429417/958227/version/1/file/Emploi+cadre+zones+transfrontali%C3%A8res.pdf