Why work abroad?

France is a major tourist centre, attracting 80 million visitors every year. Tourism accounted for more than 7 % of GDP in 2010 and is a significant source of jobs.

The French economy is a social market economy based on private property. It is principally a service economy - three quarters of French people work in the services sector - although industrial firms continue to represent a relatively large share of gross domestic product (GDP) and exports, and employ 14 % of the workforce. In 2011, France had more foreign investment in industry than any other country in Europe, principally in the chemicals, metals and metalworking, and food industries. Foreign investment in research and development rose 12 % a year on average from 2007-11.