Cross-border workers: a major contribution to the French economy
September 2026
While tourism is often discussed, cross-border workers are rarely mentioned. Yet their contribution to the French economy is considerable. An article in Le Figaro*, based on a report by the Banque de France, states that cross-border workers bring in nearly twice as much revenue for France as tourism. Every day, nearly 520,000 people living in France cross a border to work in a neighbouring country. These mobility flows durably shape cross-border regions, which serve as living spaces, employment hubs, and centres of economic exchange.
A positive balance of 36.9 billion euros
According to the Banque de France’s data, in 2025 cross-border workers generated a positive balance of 36.9 billion euros for France, while tourism generated 20 billion euros. This balance, equivalent to the difference between the wages received from abroad by French residents and the wages paid to foreign residents working in France, highlights the importance of labour market disparities between France and its neighbouring countries, notably Switzerland and Luxembourg but also the economic significance of cross-border regions.
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