677,700 net job creations in the private sector in 2021

Europe 1 with AFP 08:02, March 09, 2022

The private sector recorded 677,700 net job creations over one year at the end of 2021 (+3.5%), exceeding its pre-crisis level by 323,700 jobs, at the end of 2019, according to the final estimate published. Wednesday by INSEE.

In the last quarter, salaried employment increased by 0.6% (+117,900), as in the previous quarter.

Compared to its provisional estimate of February 4, INSEE has revised its figures slightly upwards (+0.1 point over the quarter, +0.2 point over the year).

The pre-crisis level exceeded

In 2020, under the effect of the Covid-19 crisis, some 320,000 jobs had been destroyed in the private sector, after five consecutive years of increase.

Temporary employment, the compass of the job market, increased "strongly" in the last quarter (+5.4%, or 42,300 jobs) and exceeded its pre-crisis level for the first time, indicates INSEE.

At the end of 2021, it was 6.3% above its level at the end of 2019 (i.e. +49,100 jobs).

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Salaried employment exceeds its pre-crisis level in all sectors except industry.

Industrial employment (excluding temporary workers) increased slightly again in Q4 2021 (+0.2%).

However, it had fallen by 1.7% over the whole of 2020 (-55,000 jobs).

At the end of December 2021, industrial employment thus remained below its pre-crisis level: -1.1% compared to the end of 2019 (i.e. -33,900 jobs).

In the commercial tertiary sector excluding temporary work, employment slowed down again: only +0.5% (+56,900).

Employment in this sector was very marked by the health restriction measures, falling in particular by 2.6% over the whole of 2020 (i.e. -306,800 jobs).

But it rebounded strongly in 2021, increasing in total over the year by 4.3% (+490,900 jobs).

At the end of December 2021, employment in this sector thus exceeded its level at the end of 2019 by 1.6% (i.e. +184,100 jobs).

In construction (excluding temporary work), employment rose again in the fourth quarter (0.4%).

It remains well above its pre-crisis level: +4.7% or +67,600 jobs.

Finally, employment in the non-market tertiary sector fell slightly in the 4th quarter (-0.1%).

This is explained by a decline in public sector employment, which accounts for two-thirds of employment in this sector.

It nevertheless exceeded its level at the end of 2019 by 1.3% (i.e. +104,300).

The health sector contributed strongly to this increase (+61,000 jobs).