Cross-border workers in France and Switzerland: a new trend in Franche-Comté

According to a recent study by INSEE, the number of French people crossing the Swiss border to work in Franche-Comté rose remarkably in 2022. With an increase of 9.6 % on the previous year, this region has reached an unprecedented level.

Summary of INSEE statistics

1. In 2022, the number of cross-border workers from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in Switzerland reached almost 44,000, up 9.6 % on the previous year.
2. Of these cross-border workers, the majority reside in the Doubs département, with around 31,300 workers, representing an increase of 8.7 % compared with 2021.
3. The Swiss canton of Jura welcomed around 1,100 additional cross-border workers in 2022, an increase of 15.1 % on the previous year.
4. The Territoire de Belfort saw a significant increase of 15.6 % in the number of cross-border workers, although its numbers remain lower than those of the Doubs or the Jura.
5. Some 215,000 French cross-border commuters work in Switzerland, more than half of whom (59 %) come from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, while 21 % come from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
6. In 2022, 25,000 cross-border commuters were working in the cantons of Neuchâtel and Jura, 22,300 of them in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. The number of cross-border workers in the canton of Jura rose by 15.1 %, and in Neuchâtel by 8.1 %.
7. The canton of Vaud remains the leading destination canton for workers from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, with 17,100 people, representing an increase of 8.5 % over one year.
8. The canton of Berne also saw an increase of 8.9 %, with just over 2,300 cross-border workers residing in the region by the end of 2022.
9. Only 1,200 local residents work in the canton of Geneva, with an increase of 5.2 % in 2022, following an increase of 10 % in 2021.

Source : www.insee.fr

A cross-border momentum unrivalled in Franche-Comté

INSEE recently revealed a surprising socio-professional trend. In 2022, a record number of Francs-Comtois crossed the Swiss border to work, recording an increase of 9.6 % compared to 2021. This situation is unprecedented for the region, and reveals a wider dynamic on a national scale, where the number of cross-border workers is also growing significantly.

Nearly 3,800 more Francs-Comtois crossed the Swiss border to look for work in 2022. These figures position Bourgogne-Franche-Comté as the second French region with the most cross-border workers, preceded only by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The latter alone records more than half of France's 215,000 cross-border commuters.

These statistics, interesting as they are, raise a number of questions. What motivates these workers to cross the border? What are the profiles of these economic migrants? And which sectors of activity attract them most to Switzerland?

Who are these Francs-Comtois cross-border workers?

Cross-border workers are individuals who live in one country and work in another. They generally return to their homes daily, or at least once a week. This is not a new phenomenon. For decades, many workers from the border regions of France, Germany, Italy and Austria have commuted daily to work in Switzerland. However, thehe sharp increase observed in Franche-Comté is a relatively recent phenomenon..

Doubs, Jura and Territoire de Belfort are the Franche-Comté départements with the most cross-border workers. In Doubs, for example, 31,300 residents have chosen to work in Switzerland. Jura and Territoire de Belfort follow with 7,300 and 4,200 cross-border workers respectively.

These figures may come as a surprise, but they can be explained in part by the geographical proximity of these départements to Switzerland, as well as by the presence of numerous transport infrastructures facilitating daily travel.

The Swiss cantons: home to cross-border commuters

On the Swiss side, three cantons appear to be particularly attractive to Franche-Comté workers: Vaud, Neuchâtel and the Swiss Jura. The canton of Vaud tops the list, with an increase of 8.1 % between 2021 and 2022 in the number of Franche-Comté cross-border workers. Neuchâtel and the Swiss Jura attract almost 22,300 workers. The cantons of Lausanne, Berne and Geneva also remain very popular with the French.

These cantons have many attractions. Not only are they geographically close to the French departments of Franche-Comté, but they also offer a high quality of life, with modern infrastructures, a strong culture of innovation and an exceptional natural environment.

Switzerland, an economic Eldorado?

So why Switzerland? Why do so many workers in Burgundy-Franche-Comté turn to this neighboring country for their jobs? The reasons are manifold and vary according to the individual, but certain trends can be identified.

Firstly, Switzerland offers higher salaries than France. The median salary in Switzerland was around 6,500 Swiss francs per month in 2020, almost double the median salary in France. What's more, Switzerland's unemployment rate is exceptionally low. It will stand at 2.2 % in 2022, well below the European Union average. What's more, Switzerland is renowned for its economic, political and social stability, which can also attract workers looking for security.

Secondly, geographical accessibility plays a major role. Burgundy-Franche-Comté and Switzerland share almost 230 km of borders, making daily commuting easy. What's more, Switzerland's modern transport infrastructure, such as trains and buses, makes commuting much easier.

Switzerland is renowned for the quality of its working environment. Working conditions are generally very good, with reasonable working hours, great flexibility and rigorous respect for workers' rights. Switzerland is also renowned for its culture of innovation and high level of education, which can be particularly attractive to skilled workers and high-level professionals.

Business sectors popular with cross-border commuters

Switzerland is particularly well known for certain business sectors. The watchmaking industry, for example, employs 15,000 people from Burgundy and the Franche-Comté region. This sector, emblematic of Swiss excellence, offers stable, well-paid jobs, which explains its appeal to many cross-border workers.

The service sector, particularly financial services and IT, also attracts a large number of cross-border workers. These sectors are characterized by a high demand for specialized skills and offer high salaries, which may explain their attractiveness to skilled workers.

Switzerland's appeal to cross-border commuters goes far beyond high wages. Indeed, Switzerland's quality of life, economic stability, geographical proximity to France, and career and professional development opportunities all contribute to the popularity of Switzerland among French cross-border commuters.

The phenomenon of the professional exodus of the Francs-Comtois to Switzerland is complex and multifactorial. It is a movement that reflects not only cross-border economic dynamics, but also individual aspirations for a better quality of life and more rewarding career opportunities. It is therefore essential to continue monitoring this trend to understand how it is evolving and what impact it will have on Franche-Comté's economy and society in the long term.

Read more : How can I find a job in Switzerland if I live across the border? – French cross-border commuters in Switzerland: advantages and disadvantages in 2023 – Frontaliers France / Suisse, 50 years of the CFG: What's at stake for frontier workers and French communes? – Sectors in demand in Switzerland in 2023: opportunities for cross-border workers.