Living and Working in Toulouse in France

Toulouse may only be the fourth largest city in France but it actually has the fastest growing metropolitan area in Europe thanks largely to the fact that the city has become a strategic centre for employment in fields such as the aerospace industry for example.

Because employment opportunities have grown substantially in recent years so the number of international citizens living and working in Toulouse in France has grown and now this part of France has a truly multi-cultural flavour.

Toulouse is in Southern France, it’s the capital of the Midi-Pyrenees region and it’s almost exactly located half way between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic meaning that it is no more than a couple of hours away from some amazing beaches. 

Toulouse is an easy city to get to, there are two airports servicing it and the city also has excellent fast train links to Paris; internally it benefits from a good Metro system and many bus routes - once outside the city centre you can get on the motorway and drive easily across France and access the rest of the European mainland. 

As stated, Toulouse is an incredibly important employment centre in France.  Employers such as Airbus, Alcatel Alenia Space and EADS have a significant presence in the city and recruit internationally meaning that you’re not going to be the only expat living in France if you move to Toulouse!  In fact, Toulouse is one of the few French cities where you really can get by if you don’t have a grasp of the French language - although it is true to say that you’ll get so much more out of living in France if you do make the effort to learn French.

Another reason that many international citizens end up living in Toulouse in France is because it has the second largest student population in the whole of the country.  The universities and colleges in Toulouse are world renowned for their educational standards which is why many choose to study there – and those who come to Toulouse even just for a short period of study or employment often stay for life because the balance that the city manages to achieve between opportunity and quality of life is excellent.

Because the French know that there is more to life than just working for a living the social and cultural side of life in Toulouse is really good.  There are many bars and even a few English and Irish pubs!  There are cafes, fantastic restaurants, clubs, museums, cinemas and a resident ballet company – the city also welcomes visiting musicians and artists regularly for concerts and exhibitions, and because mountains and beaches are so easily accessible from the city there is a lot of emphasis on outdoor living and pursuits such as climbing, hiking, biking and horse riding.

Toulouse is a really easy city to live in – there are many employment opportunities, the standard of living is high, the city is clean and safe and there is plenty of emphasis on family, friends and having a life outside of work. 

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