France Private Payrolls Employment Down 0.1% in Q1

Payroll employment in France’s private sector edged down by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2025, with a decline of 28,700 jobs to an over two-year low of 20.98 million.

This contrasts with preliminary estimates, which had suggested employment would remain stable.

It follows a downwardly revised 0.4% drop (or 81,200 job losses) in the previous quarter.

Job losses were recorded in agriculture (-3,200 jobs), construction (-10,300), industry (-2,500), and the commercial tertiary sector (-27,200).

In contrast, employment increased in the non-commercial tertiary sector, which added 14,600 jobs.

Compared to Q1 2024, private sector employment was down 0.6%, equivalent to 123,300 fewer jobs.

However, it remained 5.2% above its pre-pandemic level, representing a net gain of 1.0 million jobs.