1. A more open public sector
For the past two decades, Luxembourg’s public sector has also been open to candidates who do not hold Luxembourgish nationality. Today, foreign nationals account for approximately 9% of the country’s public workforce.
2. Why consider public service?
Working for the Luxembourg state offers job security, competitive salaries, attractive pension schemes and strong work-life balance. Employees also benefit from structured career progression, extensive training opportunities and flexible working arrangements, making the public sector an appealing employer in an increasingly competitive labour market.
3. Four career categories
Luxembourg’s public service offers career opportunities for candidates with a wide range of qualifications. Jobs are organized into four categories (A, B, C and D), each linked to specific educational requirements, salary scales and career paths. Category A covers graduate and management roles, while categories B, C and D include technical, administrative, operational and vocational professions.
4. The most international sectors
The presence of foreign employees varies significantly across public institutions. Research, higher education and healthcare are by far the most internationalised sectors largely because language requirements are more flexible. By contrast, sovereign functions remain largely closed to non-Luxembourgish nationals. The judiciary, the armed forces and the police are reserved for Luxembourg citizens.
5. How to apply
Interested candidates can apply through the government’s recruitment platform, GovJobs, which centralises vacancies across ministries and public administrations. Depending on the position, applicants may need to hold the nationality of an EU member state, demonstrate proficiency in Luxembourgish, French and German, and pass a competitive examination for civil servant roles.
Tips
Don’t overlook the municipal sector. Luxembourg’s 100 municipalities recruit regularly for administrative, technical and operational positions. Salaries and benefits are like those offered by the state, and opportunities are available for foreign candidates, particularly those with good spoken Luxembourgish skills.
This article was written for the 13th edition of the Expat Guide, published by Paperjam, on 8 July. The content is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the site to contribute to the full Paperjam archive. Click this link to subscribe to the magazine.
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