After a 70% plunge at the end of March, the temporary work sector dropped by 61% in April due to containment, particularly in the building and public works and industry. For the month of May, the drop could be 50%. 

After a 70% plunge at the end of March, the temporary work sector dropped by 61% in April due to confinement due to the coronavirus, particularly in the building and public works and industry. The month of May could register a drop of 50%, according to the federation Prism'emploi, which brings together companies in the sector. "The sectors that did not stop did not compensate," said Gilles Lafon, president of the federation, during a press conference on Thursday. 

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A drop four to five times greater than during the 2009 crisis

For the second half of March, Isabelle Eynaud-Chevalier, general delegate of Prism'emploi, speaks of a "real collapse", "four to five times greater" than during the crisis of 2009. These figures have already been translated in the INSEE estimate for the first quarter of private salaried employment, where more than 450,000 jobs were destroyed, including a significant part in temporary work.

For the month of April, entirely confined, the drop is 61%, which represents 475,000 fewer jobs compared to April 2019. "Partial activity has played its role of shock absorber," added Isabelle Eynaud - Knight, when she could play. Almost a quarter of temporary workers were on short-time working in April.

The construction industry, the sector most affected

The sector most affected was the construction industry, with a drop of 80%, followed by industry, which together represent 60% of the temporary work sector in France. They are followed by services and shops with a drop "between 55 and 65%", and transport and logistics (-30%). Logically, workers' jobs were the most affected. 

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In May, Isabelle Eynaud-Chevalier, perceives "a thrill of recovery" and anticipates "a fall which could be 50%".

Discussions with social partners this Thursday

While the social partners are expected this Thursday at the Elysée to discuss in particular employment, the federation said it was in favor of "a reduction in charges more important for young people". The sector is also favorable to the continuation of partial full-rate activity for sectors that have not recovered, such as catering. However, the federation said it was "cautious" on the new partial activity mechanism voted by the Assembly this week, which will concern "rather permanent employees".

She also expressed her preference for the temporary CDI formula, which allows minimum remuneration between assignments, rather than a new "CDI for employability" contract that certain companies in the sector want to use. Deemed "less satisfactory", this ignored contract for people far from employment, and allowed by the future professional law of 2018, generates "competition not healthy" with the temporary CDI.