Illustration: The graduates and students of the higher are more mobile than others. – Andrew Krech / AP / SIPA

Claire Chédeville

more graduates but more mobile and unequally distributed on the territory. This is revealed by the latest available census of population, published Thursday by INSEE.

In 20 years the number of graduates or tertiary students has increased by 2, 5 in France: “15 million French have a higher education qualification which 2.6 million are still students,” says Arnaud Degorre, CEO Picardie INSEE. And people with a highest level of education are also more likely to leave during their lives, their region of birth: 4.9 million people live in a different region from the one where they were born, and more a student in eight is born abroad.

The most popular areas

Ile-de-France is a region particularly attractive. By itself, the region concentrates more than 20% of graduates and students in higher education were born abroad. The region has the distinction of having more residents (1/4) that of native and graduate students in higher education (less than 1/5). “This is due to the strong proposal formations, but also the presence of skilled jobs until retirement age,” explains Arnaud Degorre. “The natives abroad swell migration capital of the region,” he added.

The southern regions, like Auvergne Rhône-Alps have a great arrival of residents due their strong appeal and a low starting native. “The university system of Lyon and Grenoble works very well, and it attracts many people,” said the regional director. Please PACA for its quality of life and promotes the installation of tertiary graduates in retirement. 40% of residents were not born in the region.

Reunion, meanwhile, recorded more arrivals than departures, due to needs to fill labor market.



The least attractive regions

The regions near the Ile-de-France suffer its attractiveness. Their metropolitan areas are not sufficient to focus a strong presence of professional opportunities suited to this level of education. There are 54% of starting for the Centre-Loire Valley, about 49% for BourgogneèFrance County and 46% for Normandy.

The regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy and Champagne-Ardenne Alsace-Lorraine, are struggling to attract the best qualified. “In the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Picardy, there are 1.3 million against 1,120 native residents. There are more native because there is not enough attractive proposals. “

Guadeloupe and Martinique have a similar situation. The number of native speakers is more important, it keeps the island nature and the relative scarcity of professional opportunities for more skilled.