New programme links displaced professionals with French employers to help ease labour shortages
PARIS — As French employers struggle to fill critical roles in sectors such as hospitality, construction, and renewable energy, thousands of qualified professionals remain unable to use their skills in displacement. The result is a persistent disconnect of businesses seeking talent and skilled individuals not being able to access work opportunities.
Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) is working to change that by matching displaced talent with French employers ready to hire. According to the French Ministry of Labour, nearly 300,000 jobs remain unfilled across France, with significant shortages in hospitality and construction. At the same time, TBB’s Talent Catalog has over 140,000 registrations of displaced professionals, many of whose skills align with roles French employers find most difficult to recruit for, from experienced hospitality managers, to renewable energy specialists and construction professionals.
"When displacement forces people to leave their homes, they carry their skills and experience with them, hoping that one day they’ll find the right opportunity," says Mathie Ouattara, Belgium and France Project Manager, TBB. "Beyond filling vacancies, French employers who hire displaced professionals gain committed team members eager to build a future in France.”
Why this matters for business
Displaced professionals often bring valuable strengths to the workplace, including multilingual ability, international experience, and a strong drive for stability and long-term contribution. TBB's data shows that when hired through labour mobility pathways, displaced talent maintains high retention rates, helping employers reduce recruitment costs and turnover.
Despite these benefits, employers often hesitate due to perceived complexity around immigration and hiring procedures. TBB’s programme is designed to remove those barriers by providing comprehensive support throughout recruitment, visa processing, and relocation, so employers can focus on integrating new team members.
Learning from employers in Paris
TBB's programmes respond directly to employer needs. We listen to sector challenges, align our support with real hiring constraints, and adapt our processes based on employer feedback. This employer-led model ensures our pathways work for businesses, not just on paper.
In December 2025, TBB co-organized the Displaced Talent for Europe 2.0 event in Paris, where employers, policymakers, and legal experts discussed practical approaches to international recruitment. Representatives from France Travail, Bouygues Construction and Fragomen shared real-world insights on what it takes to bring international professionals into the French labour market.
TBB also highlighted early progress in France and shared lessons from international initiatives such as ReadyforIT in Naples, where strong employer–candidate matching has demonstrated both economic and social impact. When the right supports are in place, skills gaps narrow, businesses grow, and displaced professionals can rebuild their careers with dignity.
How it works
Under the EU-funded and IOM-led Displaced Talent for Europe 2.0 (DT4E 2.0) programme, TBB IOM France, Fragomen, the Ministère de l'Intérieur, the European Commission, KODIKO, and UNHCR to develop pathways that work in practice, not just on paper. DT4E 2.0 builds on proven success in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, where displaced professionals have secured employment and become valued team members and community contributors.
The programme offers French employers access to qualified, motivated professionals and receive practical support throughout the immigration and recruitment process.
French employers interested in learning more about hiring displaced talent can contact Talent Beyond Boundaries here.
