Latest News Stream - Nonfarm Payrolls Private

Private payroll employment in France declined 0.1% quarter-on-quarter, or 25,800 jobs, in the third quarter of 2026, matching market expectations and following an identical decrease in the previous period. Compared with a year earlier, private employment fell 0.3% (-69,800 jobs), marking its seventh consecutive quarterly decline, though it remained 4.9% (+982,100 jobs) above its pre-pandemic level. Temporary employment rebounded, rising 1.3% (+8,900 jobs) after a 1.0% decline in the previous quarter, but remained 0.2% above its year-earlier level and 8.7% below its pre-pandemic level. Excluding temporary work, employment trends remained weak across sectors. Jobs in agriculture fell 1.9% (-6,000), industry declined 0.2% (-6,400), and construction contracted 0.4% (-6,100). Meanwhile, market services employment excluding temporary work edged down 0.1% (-12,000 jobs), while non-market services decreased 0.2% (-4,300 jobs).

Private payroll employment in France fell 0.1% quarter-on-quarter, or 24,300 jobs, to 21 million in the second quarter of 2026, confirming preliminary estimates and following a revised flat reading in the previous period. Compared with a year earlier, private employment was down 0.4% (-80,900 jobs), marking the sixth consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline, though it remained 5.1% (+1 million jobs) above its pre-pandemic level. Temporary employment continued to weaken, falling 1.0% (-6,700 jobs), leaving it below both its year-earlier level (-1.7%) and its pre-pandemic level (-9.9%). Excluding temporary work, employment declined in agriculture (-2.6%), construction (-0.4%) and industry (-0.1%), while market and non-market services were broadly stable. Within market services, accommodation and food services added 4,400 jobs, partly offsetting declines in information and communication and other services.

Private payroll employment in France fell 0.1% quarter-on-quarter, or 19,300 jobs, to 21 million in the second quarter of 2026, matching market expectations and remaining unchanged from the previous period. Compared with a year earlier, private employment was down 0.4% (-79,700 jobs), though it remained 5% (+1 million jobs) above its pre-pandemic level. Temporary employment continued to weaken, falling 1.4% (-9,700 jobs), leaving it below both its year-earlier level (-1.9%) and its pre-pandemic level (-10.4%). Excluding temporary work, employment trends were mixed across sectors. Jobs in agriculture declined 0.8% (-2,500 jobs), industry shed 0.1% (-3,200 jobs), while the construction contracted 0.4% (-6,100 jobs). Meanwhile, employment in both market services and non-market services excluding temporary work was stable. Despite the recent slowdown, France's private payroll employment remains well above pre-pandemic levels, standing 5% (+1 million jobs) higher than at the end of 2019.

Private payroll employment in France fell by 0.1% quarter-on-quarter, or 13,900 jobs, to 21.0 million in the first quarter of 2026, matching preliminary estimates and remaining unchanged from the previous quarter. Permanent contracts edged down 0.1% from the prior quarter but remained well above their end-2019 level, while apprenticeship contracts declined by 0.4%. In contrast, fixed-term contracts excluding apprenticeships rose by 0.4% over the quarter. By age group, private sector employment continued to decline among workers aged 15–29 (-0.2%), mainly due to weaker apprenticeship hiring. Employment also fell for those aged 30–54, down 0.2% quarter-on-quarter. Meanwhile, employment among older workers aged 55 and above continued to rise strongly, increasing by 0.7%. On a yearly basis, private payroll employment decreased by 0.3%, or 60,700 jobs, marking the fifth consecutive period of annual contraction, although employment levels remained 5.1% above their pre-pandemic level.

Private payroll employment in France fell 0.1%, or 11,400 jobs, to 21.0 million in Q1 2026, matching the previous quarter and compared with expectations of stagnation. Compared with the same period last year, private employment dropped 0.3%, or 64,400 jobs. Temporary employment continued to weaken, falling 0.3% (-1,900 jobs), remaining below both its level a year earlier (-0.7%) and its pre-pandemic level (-9.2%). Excluding temporary work, employment was mixed across sectors. Agriculture declined (-1.2%, or -4,000 jobs), alongside industry (-0.1%, or -3,200 jobs). Construction continued to contract (-0.5%, or -7,700 jobs), extending its downward trend. In contrast, market services excluding temporary work were stable, while non-market services rebounded (+0.2%, or +4,500 jobs). Despite recent weakness, private payroll employment remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels, up 5.3% (+1.1 million jobs) compared with end-2019.

Private payroll employment in France decreased by 0.1%, or 20,900 jobs, to 21.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, matching preliminary estimates and remaining unchanged from the previous quarter. Temporary employment declined slightly by 0.2% (-1,200 jobs), staying below its level in the fourth quarter of 2024 (-0.7%, or -5,200 jobs) and significantly below its pre-pandemic level (-8.9%, or -69,300 jobs). Excluding temporary work, job losses were recorded in industry (-0.1%, or -4,500 jobs), construction (-0.4%, or -5,600 jobs), commercial services (-0.1%, or -13,800 jobs), and non-market services (-0.3%, or -7,300 jobs). In contrast, employment in the agriculture sector rebounded by 3.9% (+12,300 jobs). On a yearly basis, private payroll employment dropped by 0.3%, or 60,200 jobs, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of decline. Still, employment remained well above its pre-pandemic level (end of 2019), with an increase of 5.4%, or 1.1 million jobs.

Private payroll employment in France decreased by 0.1%, or 28,700 jobs to 21.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, following a 0.1% fall in the previous quarter, according to preliminary data. Temporary employment remained broadly stable, rising by 0.1% (+800 jobs) after falling by 0.6% (-4,300 jobs) in the prior quarter. Excluding temporary work, job losses were recorded in industry (-3,200 jobs), construction (-3,100 jobs), commercial services (-18,500 jobs), and non-market services (-12,000 jobs). On a yearly basis, private payroll employment dropped by 0.2%, or 40,800 jobs, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of decline after almost four years of growth. Still, employment remained well above its pre-pandemic level (end of 2019), with an increase of 5.3% or 1.1 million jobs.

Private payroll employment in France fell by 0.1%, or 27,300 jobs to 21.03 million in the third quarter of 2025, revised upward from the initial estimate of a 0.3% drop, following a 0.2% increase in the second quarter. Employment in industry declined (-4,800 jobs), while that in non-market services was virtually stable (-800 jobs). Permanent contracts and fixed-term contracts (excluding work-study) rose by 0.1% but remained below its level of a year ago. Work-study contracts declined by 4.6%, or 49,200 jobs. On a yearly basis, private payroll employment decreased by 0.3%, or 72,900 jobs, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of decline after almost four years of growth. Still, it remained well above its pre-pandemic level (end-2019), with an increase of 5.5% or 1.1 million jobs.

Private payroll employment in France rose by 0.2%, or 43,400 jobs to 21.03 million in the second quarter of 2025, rebounding slightly from a 0.1% fall in the first quarter and defying both market forecasts and preliminary estimates of zero growth. Job gains were mainly observed in the agriculture sector (+0.4%). By age group, employment was stable among those aged 15–29, almost stable for 30–54-year-olds, and increased sharply for people aged 55 years old and more (+0.9%). On a yearly basis, private payroll employment dropped by 0.1%, or 27,900 jobs. However, it remained well above pre-pandemic levels (end of 2019), with an increase of 5.5% or about 1.1 million jobs.

Private payroll employment in France stalled in the second quarter of 2025, with a decline of 4,800 jobs, bringing the total to 20.97 million — the lowest level in nearly three years, preliminary estimates showed. This followed a 0.1% drop in the previous quarter and contrasted with market expectations of a 0.1% rise. Employment was virtually stable in both industry (-0.1%) and market services (+0.1%), and it increased slightly in non-market services (+0.2%). Meanwhile, employment continued to decline in the construction sector (-0.5%). On a yearly basis, private payroll employment fell by 0.4%, or 93,900 jobs, although it remained significantly above pre-pandemic levels (Q4 2019), up 5.2%, representing an increase of 1.0 million jobs.

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.

Payroll employment in France's private sector was stable in the first quarter of 2025, rising by 9.4 thousand to 21.05 million, following a 0.3% drop in the previous three-month period, according to preliminary estimates. It far exceeded its pre-pandemic level (end of Q4 2019) by 5.5%, or 1.1 million jobs. Employment was stable in market services (0% vs -0.3% in Q4) and rebounded in non-market services (0.8% vs -0.5%). On a yearly basis, private payroll employment fell by 0.3%.

Payroll employment in France's private sector decreased by 68 thousand, or 0.3% to 21.04 million in the fourth quarter, reversing from a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous three-month period, and revising from preliminary estimates of a 0.2% decrease. Job losses were recorded in market services (-0.2% vs 0.1% in Q3), which fell back for the first time since Q2 2013, particularly professional, scientific and technical activities and information and communication. In addition, employment in non-market services (-0.4% vs 0.3%) tumbled notably, dragged down by public and private components. On a yearly basis, private payroll employment declined 0.1%.

Payroll employment in France's private sector declined by 50.1 thousand, or 0.2% to 21.07 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to market forecasts of a 0.1% drop. Job losses were recorded across several sectors, including agriculture (-0.8% vs 2.3% in Q3), goods-producing industries excluding construction (-0.1% vs 0%), construction (-0.5% vs -0.2%), and market services (-0.3% vs 0.1%). Meanwhile, employment in non-market services remained unchanged (0% vs 0.5%). On a yearly basis, private payroll employment showed no increase in the fourth quarter.

Payroll employment in France's private sector increased by 27 thousand, or 0.1% to 21.12 million in the third quarter, following a 0.2% decline in the previous period, and revising from preliminary estimates of a 0.1% decrease. The increase was mainly driven by a rebound in the agriculture sector (2.3% vs -3.4% in Q2), and market services (0.1% vs -0.2%), while non-market services rose further (0.4% vs 0.2%). However, this was almost offset by the decline from the construction sector (-0.2% vs -0.6%), and stagnation in goods-producing industries (0% vs 0.1%). On a yearly basis, private payroll employment rose 0.2%.

Payroll employment in the French private sector decreased by 25 thousand, or 0.1% to 21.07 million in the third quarter of 2024, unchanged from the revised figure of the previous quarter and defying market expectations of a flat reading, preliminary estimates showed. The decline was primarily driven by a continued downturn in the construction sector. In contrast, the agriculture sector recorded an increase while the industry sector stalled. On a year-on-year basis, payroll employment remained virtually unchanged, with a marginal decrease of just 4.9 thousand.

Payroll employment in the French private sector stalled at 21.09 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the initial projection of 21.15 million and following a downwardly revised 0.3% advance or 52.3 thousand jobs gain in the previous three-month period. This stability was primarily driven by a reduction of private payroll employment in agriculture (-6.9 thousand jobs), construction (-10 thousand), and commercial tertiary (-18.2 thousand) sectors. On a positive note, the industrial and non-market sectors recorded an increase of 4.7 thousand and 17.6 thousand jobs, respectively. On a year-on-year basis, payrolls went up by 60.7 thousand.

Payroll employment in the French private sector stalled at 21.15 million in the second quarter of 2024, following a 0.3% increase in the previous three-month period and falling short of market expectations of a 0.2% rise, preliminary estimates showed. This stability was largely attributed to a steady private payroll employment in market services after a 0.1% rebound in Q1, and a slowdown in non-market services growth to 0.3% from 0.5%. On a year-on-year basis, payroll employment increased by 0.4% or 78 thousand.

Payroll employment in the French private sector increased by 61.1 thousand, or 0.3% to 21.16 million in the first quarter of 2024, surpassing initial projection of 50.5 thousand, and rebounding from a 15.5 thousand fall in the previous three-month period. This upturn was mainly due to higher jobs in industry (+7.3 thousand), commercial tertiary (+51.7 thousand jobs), and non-market (+25.9 thousand) sectors. Conversely, the jobs dropped in agriculture (-0.9 thousand) and construction (-8.9 thousand) sectors. Year-on-year, payrolls went up by 123.2 thousand.