Les misérables: Young French workers flock to Britain in search of jobs

From The Guardian (Les misérables: France's unhappy position by Ashley Seager, May 7, 2007):

When the dust settles on the Ségo v Sarko presidential election campaign, the harsh reality of the economic challenges that face the victor will still be there like a hangover after a party.

France's poor labour market performance is well known and has been a problem for decades. But until recently the economy was propped up by low interest rates and robust consumer spending.

[. . .]

Contrary to the idea held by many people in Britain - that the French have a better quality of life - studies suggest they are less content with their lot. Danny Blanchflower, a Bank of England economist, has researched relative happiness levels across many countries and the results are clear: the French trail the British in terms of happiness, life satisfaction and job satisfaction.

As unemployment has a strong correlation with happiness levels, it is probably safe to conclude that jobless figures at close to 9% - the eurozone's highest - is the main reason. And unemployment remains particularly acute amongst the young, at over 20%. Small wonder, then, that so many young French people come to London to find work. This is a loss to France since many of them are highly educated.

In Britain they enjoy the flexibility and jobs that the UK labour market offers them. About 300,000 now live in Britain and France has suffered the biggest emigration since the Huguenots fled in the 16th and 17th centuries. Indeed, Mr Sarkozy came to London earlier this year appealing to these émigrés to return.

Read all of Ashley Seager's article.

I'm interested in France for what, if anything, it can tell me about the consequences of Muslim immigration to a western nation. The massive riots in 2005 are proof if any is needed that Muslim immigrants have not integrated into French society. The question is, why not? Living as I do in Canada, it's hard for me to judge. Does the problem lie with religion? Is Islam incompatible with the French way of life? Is the problem economic discrimination? Are the youth in the banlieues angry because French employers unfairly discriminate against them? Maybe the problem isn't discrimination so much as a general lack of jobs due to France's rigid work rules? Nicolas Sarkozy campaigned on the need to change some of the regulations that make it hard to do business in France. Would that help? Would deregulation create more jobs and would more jobs take away some of the anger that now exists in the immigrant neighbourhoods? Sarkozy also supports affirmative action quotas. Is that compatible with business deregulation?

See also:

Nicolas Sarkozy has been elected president of France. This should prove interesting. Or maybe not

Elections in France: immigration, assimilation and national identity are the centrepieces of Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign

Jean-Marie Le Pen goes after France's ethnic vote