France's healthcare sector is facing an unprecedented staffing crisis. For European paramedical professionals, this represents a major window of opportunity that would be a shame to miss.
Nurses: the strongest demand
France is short of more than 100,000 nurses according to DREES projections for 2025. Needs are particularly acute in emergency departments, intensive care units, and care homes. The Île-de-France, Occitanie, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions account for most vacancies, but rural areas also offer attractive conditions with installation grants.
Physiotherapists: a silent shortage
With an ageing population and the rise of chronic conditions, physiotherapists are in extremely high demand. Those wishing to set up in private practice easily find patients, particularly in officially recognised under-served areas which benefit from specific financial support.
Midwives and other high-demand professions
Midwives, occupational therapists, and speech therapists complete the picture of high-demand professions. Public and private maternity wards, as well as follow-up care and rehabilitation facilities, are particularly keen to recruit and offer advantageous hiring conditions.
Top recruiting regions in 2025
- Île-de-France: major AP-HP hospitals, private clinics, care homes — highest volume of vacancies
- Occitanie: sustained demographic growth, many developing structures
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: dynamic economy, significant needs in rural areas
- Brittany and Normandy: medically underserved areas, installation grants available
- Grand Est: proximity to Germany, strong demand for multilingual profiles
How to seize this opportunity?
For European professionals, the first step is obtaining diploma recognition from the French authorities. Once cleared, Suxens facilitates direct connections with partner institutions actively recruiting European profiles. The market is favourable, but positioning yourself quickly makes all the difference.