Living and Working in Toulouse
Toulouse is also known as the "Pink
City" due to the wide use of terra cotta brick in its architecture. Enjoy
it best with a glass of wine on a terrace – or a glass of the local aperitif:
the Pastis. Indeed, it offers a very special blend of French culture, a vivid
atmosphere, and an excellent job market, especially within the aerospace and
aeronautics sectors, engineering, and life science sector.
Toulouse to live in
Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France with over a million inhabitants. With heavy investments within the city focused on sense of place, diversity, and beauty, Toulouse is poised to continue to be
a lovely city to live in. It attracts professionals from all over the world due
to its rich culture, location, and economic dynamism. While generally lower than major cities
like Paris, the cost of living in Toulouse can still be significant. Rent is a major expense
averaging at €740 per month in central areas. However, Toulouse offers a good
quality of life with access to relatively affordable groceries and public
transportation. The Mediterranean climate in Toulouse consists of hot summers and mild winters. During the summer
months, it can get very warm, making air conditioning almost necessary. Toulouse
is a French city that possesses several museums, theatres
and historical monuments. It also contains various festivals and events which are organised in different times of the year.
Working in Toulouse
Toulouse has a very strong economy, and the main source of the economy is aerospace and aeronautics. It is also a centre of research and development, information technology, and higher education. The life science sector is also booming in Toulouse with 15,000 students, 2,200 researchers in the health sector, 8 hospitals, 9 clinics, 110 companies gathering 3,500 employees and one major site called the Oncopole. There are ample job opportunities in various streams of studies, particularly related to engineering, IT, and research. Around 190,000 people work daily in the medical and health sector R&D in the Occitanie region. Though many international companies use English, one will have far easier integration into society and professional rise if he or she can speak French fluently.
Tips for Expatriates
Visa: A residence visa to France usually also allows working.
Accommodation: Sometimes accommodations can be quite tricky; thus, it is better to do a search well in advance in the centre using local real estate agencies or an online portal.
Healthcare: Learn about the French healthcare system; subscribe to health insurance.
Languages: Knowledge of French can help a lot in improving experiences and integrating with the community. Either joining language classes or looking for language learning apps.
Networking: Attend events going on in the vicinity or join groups for expatriates to meet new people, which will help in network building.
Living and working in Toulouse can indeed be a rewarding experience: it is a city buzzing with culture, with its excellent job market and enviable climate.
Life Science Roles in Toulouse
If you’re considering a move to stunning South of France, the QCS Staffing team can help make it happen. We have a number of French Life Science roles, so if you are in the market for a new role, check out our job boards or contact us to see how we can help.