Payroll employment grew at the same pace (+ 0.2%) in the third quarter as in the second

Paris (AFP)

The private sector recorded 33,700 net job creations in the third quarter, an increase of 0.2% as in the previous quarter, according to INSEE final figures released Tuesday.

The institute has revised down its provisional estimate of 54,300 positions (+ 0.3%). In the second quarter, the increase was 43,500 jobs.

Payroll employment again rose slightly in the civil service (+8,600 after +10,600).

Over one year, paid employment increased by a total of 258,600 (+ 1.0%): +231,000 in the private sector and +27,700 in the public service

By sector, employment remains almost stable in the industry: +1,500 after +1,400. Industrial employment is 17,400 above its level of one year ago (+ 0.6%).

In construction, it continues to grow steadily: +9,000 (+ 0.6%). Over one year, the increase reached 42,200 (+ 3.1%).

Employment rose by 23,500 in market services, ie + 0.2%. Over one year, these sectors account for the vast majority of net job creation (+167,500). This despite a drop in temporary employment, -2,900, as in the previous quarter (-8,000 over one year).

Salaried employment in mainly non-market services rose slightly, as in the previous quarter: +6,500, after +11,200. This increase comes mainly from the civil service (+7,600 after +10,000) while private employment remains almost stable.

In total, salaried employment accounts for 19.6 million jobs and has been growing steadily since the second quarter of 2015.

In another statement, the Central Agency of Social Security Agencies (Acoss) also estimates the increase in the number of private employees to 0.2% (+34,100) in the 3rd quarter and 1.4% over one year (+251,000 ).

Acoss also calculates an average per capita wage increase of 0.9% in the third quarter, as in the previous quarter. Over one year, it increases by 2.3%. In comparison, consumer prices fell by 0.1% this quarter and increased by 0.8% year-on-year.

In total, the wage bill (subject to social security contributions) increased by 1.1% in the third quarter, slightly less than in the second (+ 1.3%). Over one year, it rose by 3.7%.

According to Acoss, the salaried workforce is growing in almost all regions. Only the regions located in the north-east quarter (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, the Grand Est and the Hauts de France) are losing salaried positions.

© 2019 AFP