More unemployment, lower wages or even more poverty: in a study published this Thursday, INSEE draws up an inventory of the situation of immigrants in France. This demographic study, which for the first time in ten years analyzes the evolution of immigration over several generations, estimates that seven million immigrants lived in France in 2021, that is, 10.3% of the population. And, economically, it finds a much less favorable condition for immigrants and descendants of immigrants.
A situation already observed in the labor market: if we consider the active population aged 15 to 74 living in France excluding Mayotte, 13% of immigrants and 12% of immigrant descendants were unemployed (according to the ILO) in 2021 , compared to 7% for people without direct migratory ancestry, says INSEE. In addition, the situation varies greatly depending on the geographical origin: 16% of immigrant workers from the Maghreb were unemployed in 2021, the same for 15% of those from sub-Saharan Africa and 14% of those from Turkey and the Middle East, compared to 6% of immigrants working from southern Europe or 9% from Asia.
These differences according to geographic origin remain essentially the same when we study the descendants of immigrants. Thus, the unemployment rate of descendants of African origin (16%) is double that of descendants of immigrants of European origin (8%).
less skilled jobs
On the other hand, immigrants also work in lower paying jobs. According to the INSEE, the median monthly net salary of immigrants aged 15 to 74 who work full-time was 1,700 euros in 2021, compared to 1,810 euros for descendants of immigrants and 1,900 euros for people without migratory ancestry. direct. Again, with a strong geographical variable: this salary amounts to 1,600 euros for an immigrant from Africa, compared to 1,900 euros for an immigrant from Europe, or 16% less. The same occurs with the following generations, where it continues to be 12% lower for the descendants of immigrants of African origin.
Immigrants occupy more jobs that are less qualified and, therefore, associated with lower wages. According to INSEE, 13% of employed immigrants were concerned in 2021 about a limited-term contract (CDD or interim) compared to 9% of people without direct immigrant ancestry -the descendants of immigrants, on average younger than these The latter also have more positions in limited-term contracts (11%). In addition, only 8% of employed immigrants are civil servants, double the total number of employed persons (15%); access to these positions is usually subject to nationality criteria.
31.5% poverty
The study also points to greater poverty. One in two immigrants had an annual standard of living below 17,000 euros in 2019, that is, 1,417 euros per month, compared to 19,970 euros for descendants (+15%) and 22,880 euros for people without ancestry migratory (+26%). In addition, 31.5% of immigrants even had a standard of living below the monetary poverty line (1,102 euros per month), a poverty rate three times higher than that of people without immigrant ancestry (11.1 %). For immigrants of European origin, who are on average older and more educated, this rate is, however, much lower (19.5%) than for those of African (39.2%) or Asian (36.4%) origin. %).
Regarding the descendants of immigrants (21.7% in a situation of monetary poverty in 2019), the poverty rate varies widely depending on the geographical origin of the parents. This is 26.7% of the descendants of immigrants of African origin and 31.3% of those of Asian origin, compared to 11.9% of the descendants of immigrants of European origin, slightly higher than that of people without ancestry migratory (11.1%). Like their ancestors, the descendants of European immigrants are older and have a higher activity rate.
Source: BFM TV
