More residents, more French cross-border workers… but fewer Belgians and Germans. This is the observation made by Statec on the job market.
The statistics institute notes a “withdrawal” which affects workers from certain countries. A “loss of momentum” which therefore did not affect everyone in the same way. The number of German (-0.5%) and Belgian (-0.2%) cross-border workers is falling between the end of 2023 and May 2024. At the end of March 2024, there were 52,406 and 51,702 respectively employed in Luxembourg, plus more than 124,000 French cross-border workers.
More “the relative attractiveness of Luxembourg also depends on working conditions (gross salaries and taxation, access to teleworking, travel time, etc.)” writes Statec. While cross-border workers are now equal on the teleworking thresholds, there are significant gaps in terms of salaries.
Although twice as numerous, The French remain the lowest paid among cross-border workers : according to a BCL study, they earned a median income of €60,800 in 2021. Which means that half earn less than this amount. The other half earn more. This is well below the €79,400 earned by Belgian cross-border workers, and the €79,500 earned by German cross-border workers. Not to mention that some French cross-border workers will soon have to face a tax increase in France.
Despite everything, Cross-border employment continues to increase : +11,000 employees in two years, compared to +8,000 resident employees over the same period. Although the latter continue to represent the majority of workers in Luxembourg.
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