2023-07-03 21:02:29
At the end of 2021, Luxembourg had 212,343 workers crossing the border every day to come and work on Grand Ducal soil, out of a total of 458,210 salaried jobs. That is a proportion of 46.34%, a quasi-equality which will more than likely be achieved within a few years. One need only look at the latest salaried employment data to realize this. Payroll employment saw an increase of 2.9% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the first quarter of 2022.
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This increase is more particularly marked among cross-border workers than among Luxembourg residents. And especially among the French, with an increase of 0.9% during this first quarter, and 4.6% in one year. As we know, French cross-border workers obviously represent the largest share of cross-border workers, followed by the Germans and then finally the Belgians. But in fact, who are they?
+39% cross-border workers in 10 years!
The Moselle urban planning agency (Aguram), which observes the evolution of the territory and its practices, has set out to produce a complete and detailed analysis, published this week. Thus, we learn from the outset that between 2012 and 2022, the total number of French cross-border workers increased by 39% to reach 117,150 workers today.
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The latter are mainly distributed between the departments of Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle. Indeed, this territory concentrates more than 9 cross-border workers residing in France out of 10, or 32% of the active population, colossal! This same figure even climbs to 70% in certain territories such as the Community of communes of Cattenom or the Pays Haut.
Where do French cross-border workers live?
However, it is now around the metropolis of Messina, further from the border, that the phenomenon is most dynamic. Hosting half of the assets of the North Lorraine area, “the SCoTAM (which covers the Moselle and the Meurthe-et-Moselle for 224 municipalities and 415,630 inhabitants, Ed) and the Eurometropolis of Metz (which covers Metz and the municipalities neighboring areas for 230,000 inhabitants, editor’s note) potentially constitute the most important reservoir of French labor for Luxembourg”, specifies the study.
Moreover, in 2022, nearly 10,000 residents of the Eurometropolis of Metz worked in Luxembourg, i.e. 11% of its active population. On the same date, 21,700 SCoTAM residents were working in Luxembourg, i.e. 13% of its active population.
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And this phenomenon of demographic increase is not likely to dry up anytime soon. As we know, according to various studies, the total number of cross-border workers, whether Belgian, French or German, might be between 331,000 and 503,000 by 2050. A new population that will have to be accommodated. But where, knowing that real estate pressure is increasing over the weeks and that the housing crisis continues to intensify in the Grand Duchy? Aguram understands that “only the metropolis and the SCoTAM seem to date to have a reservoir of active population likely to really contribute to meeting such a demand”.
The typical frontier worker is a young man
We understand that the situation is bound to change in the coming years, but in the current state of things, who are these people who cross the Franco-Luxembourg border daily to work in the Grand Duchy? At first glance, the typical profile that emerges is that of a rather young man. Indeed, in France, cross-border workers from Luxembourg are today on average younger than the whole of the working population employed in their territory of residence. “Across the North Lorraine area, half of cross-border workers are under 40 years old, whereas they are only 45% of all workers,” the study points out.
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The observatory also indicates that the over 50s represent less than 2% of cross-border workers in most territories. They are even more under-represented among women, and particularly in mainland France: in this age group, 15% of cross-border workers are women compared to 33% of active women, or 18 points difference. A big gap between the population of cross-border workers. To explain it, the Liser had notably published a study in 2022 on the subject which justified this in particular by the constraints of travel which hindered the possible candidates, the latter preferring to devote themselves more to their family life.
Higher socio-professional categories
And what work does this typical frontier worker do? Again, there are disparities. The majority of cross-border workers residing in the Eurometropolis of Metz are executives or work in higher intellectual professions and intermediate professions (59%). It’s very simple, cross-border executives and higher intellectual professions are proportionally twice as numerous in Metz and its metropolitan area as in the other northern Lorraine territories. Workers and employees only make up 39% of cross-border workers.
In the rest of the North Lorraine area, the proportions are reversed, the SCoTAM (outside mainland France) presenting a similar profile to the rest of the North Lorraine area: 39% of executives and intermediate professions, and 59% of workers and employees.
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Also, cross-border workers are more educated than average. Thus, in the northern Lorraine area, 46% of cross-border workers have a university degree, compared to 40% in the active population. On the scale of the Eurometropolis of Metz, they are even more than 2/3 among cross-border commuters (67%), and even more among those under 40 (76% for 20-29 year olds and 71% for 30-39 years old).
What should therefore be remembered is that cross-border workers residing in the Eurometropolis therefore more often belong to higher socio-professional categories and are better qualified than other working people in the metropolis.
The salary, not the first motivation
Well, it won’t be a scoop for anyone, but the Luxembourg remuneration, much more advantageous than in France, is necessarily part of the selection criteria for deciding to work in the Grand Duchy. However, this is not the primary motivation of French cross-border workers. Indeed, on the highest step of the podium, we find the job opportunities offered in Luxembourg. Then come the higher salaries. The international and multicultural dimension, working conditions and social benefits are also among their selection criteria.
Read also: “Fed up with traveling in deplorable conditions”
But of course, life as a cross-border worker also comes with significant sacrifices. First of all, we necessarily think of travel times and mobility problems which tend to wear out assets following a certain period of time. That said, the Observatory indicates that 80% of cross-border workers residing in the metropolis have more than 3 years of seniority in Luxembourg, and 40% more than 10 years. How to challenge received ideas?
One out of 6 cross-border workers plans to return to work in France
Not so fast. According to the study, 1 in 6 respondents would consider returning to work in France within two years, mainly because of transport difficulties or to better reconcile professional and family life. This phenomenon is confirmed by INSEE: “the regular increase in cross-border employment in Luxembourg from Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle is accompanied by a strong turnover of individuals, by 20% per year on average” .
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