French expats not rushing to return

Photo: Caribb

Two thirds of French expats do not plan to return home within the next five years, according to a new study from Humanis. The research, conducted for Le Petit Journal, found that the number of French nationals overseas has doubled in the past 20 years. Now, though, a growing number are less keen to return back to their home.

68 per cent of expats do not plan to return to France in the next five years. Why the lack of homesickness? 8 in 10 said that they felt there were more career and work opportunities and skills in other countries, while 76 per cent said that living abroad gave them a more attractive professional profile.

Half of respondents said their income would be higher overseas.

"Today, nearly 20 per cent of expatriates earn between 36,000 and 60,000 euros net while the average annual net income in France is nearly 29,000 euros," says Herve Heyraud, founder of the Journal.

However, away from professional considerations, the study also suggests a more troubling reason behind those fleeing France: the country's negative image, cited as a concern by 60 per cent. 4 in 10 said that the country's general state of mind is moody, sluggish and looking at the past, while 3 in 10 said that they were moving abroad to avoid conservative politics, social problems, such as unemployment, and economic troubles.