Insee
Informations Rapides · 28 February 2025 · n° 57
Informations rapidesIn Q4 2024, payroll employment fell back (-0.3%) Payroll employment - fourth quarter 2024

In Q4 2024, payroll employment fell back by 0.3% (that is -90,100 net job creations) after +0.1% in the previous quarter (that is +35,600 jobs). It stood at its level from a year ago (that is +6,900 jobs) and exceeded its pre-sanitary crisis level (end of 2019) by 4.9%, that is 1.3 million additional jobs.

In Q4 2024, private payroll employment decreased (-0.3% that is -68,000 jobs) after a virtual stability in the previous quarter (+0.1% that is +16,800 jobs). It was below its Q4 2023 level by 0.1% (that is -25,200 jobs) and exceeded its pre-sanitary crisis level by 5.5% (that is +1.1 million jobs). Public payroll employment decreased in Q4 2024 by 0.4% (that is -22,100 jobs) after eight consecutive quarters of increases. It topped his previous year level by 0.5% (that is +32,100 jobs) and its Q4 2019 level by 3.0% (that is +0,2 million jobs).

Informations rapides
No 57
Paru le :Paru le28/02/2025
Prochaine parution le : 28/05/2025 at 08:45 - first quarter 2025

In Q4 2024, private payroll employment decreased by 0.3% and public payroll employment decreased by 0.4%

In Q4 2024, payroll employment fell back by 0.3% (that is -90,100 net job creations) after +0.1% in the previous quarter (that is +35,600 jobs). It stood at its level from a year ago (that is +6,900 jobs) and exceeded its pre-sanitary crisis level (end of 2019) by 4.9%, that is 1.3 million additional jobs.

In Q4 2024, private payroll employment decreased (-0.3% that is -68,000 jobs) after a virtual stability in the previous quarter (+0.1% that is +16,800 jobs). It was below its Q4 2023 level by 0.1% (that is -25,200 jobs) and exceeded its pre-sanitary crisis level by 5.5% (that is +1.1 million jobs). Public payroll employment decreased in Q4 2024 by 0.4% (that is -22,100 jobs) after eight consecutive quarters of increases. It topped his previous year level by 0.5% (that is +32,100 jobs) and its Q4 2019 level by 3.0% (that is +0,2 million jobs).

Variation in payroll employment

Variation in payroll employment
Industry Construction Market services Total Non-market services
2024-Q4 3271.0 1548.5 13359.0 27071.7 8571.2
2024-Q3 3273.8 1558.0 13401.5 27161.8 8606.7
2024-Q2 3272.1 1560.8 13394.9 27126.2 8577.2
2024-Q1 3268.4 1570.0 13417.5 27135.7 8555.9
2023-Q4 3261.3 1577.2 13375.2 27064.9 8529.2
2023-Q3 3250.5 1580.9 13377.7 27014.3 8488.1
2023-Q2 3240.4 1585.7 13382.0 26996.1 8474.7
2023-Q1 3232.9 1588.6 13347.7 26936.1 8457.1
2022-Q4 3225.7 1590.5 13322.6 26898.2 8440.9
2022-Q3 3219.1 1588.1 13252.6 26788.7 8426.3
2022-Q2 3207.2 1587.8 13180.3 26723.0 8434.1
2022-Q1 3199.6 1585.9 13145.0 26674.8 8423.5
2021-Q4 3197.7 1582.7 13066.0 26560.4 8396.9
2021-Q3 3188.7 1576.8 12908.1 26411.2 8415.7
2021-Q2 3177.3 1565.8 12736.5 26181.8 8384.6
2021-Q1 3167.6 1552.8 12519.2 25913.9 8364.5
2020-Q4 3157.3 1533.0 12400.9 25742.7 8342.3
2020-Q3 3159.5 1514.7 12427.7 25719.8 8319.9
2020-Q2 3160.0 1490.8 12059.8 25189.3 8181.6
2020-Q1 3175.8 1474.9 12121.1 25330.9 8263.2
2019-Q4 3186.9 1480.1 12565.6 25807.7 8273.3
2019-Q3 3181.3 1467.1 12477.9 25702.0 8264.5
2019-Q2 3177.6 1453.4 12454.5 25636.5 8249.0
2019-Q1 3170.9 1440.2 12442.0 25593.6 8242.6
2018-Q4 3160.2 1421.9 12320.9 25426.6 8229.1
2018-Q3 3152.0 1413.6 12287.8 25361.0 8214.6
2018-Q2 3151.7 1400.1 12270.4 25339.5 8229.3
2018-Q1 3147.5 1391.9 12251.2 25336.5 8259.5
2017-Q4 3148.6 1385.6 12197.1 25280.1 8261.1
2017-Q3 3142.9 1379.9 12098.1 25183.4 8270.7
2017-Q2 3146.6 1376.7 12058.4 25173.5 8298.3
2017-Q1 3144.1 1369.7 11965.7 25062.7 8287.5
2016-Q4 3146.9 1363.6 11893.7 24959.2 8273.0
2016-Q3 3155.0 1367.7 11856.0 24949.2 8275.2
2016-Q2 3158.2 1368.8 11800.9 24870.6 8256.4
2016-Q1 3167.6 1370.2 11755.1 24819.1 8243.8

Variation in payroll employment

  • Scope: France excluding Mayotte.
  • Source: INSEE, URSSAF, DARES.

Temporary employment decreased again

In Q4 2024, temporary employment decreased again and more sharply than in the previous quarter: -2.3% after -0.8% (that is -17,100 jobs after -5,700 jobs). Temporary employment was below its Q4 2023 level by 6.0% (that is -45,600 jobs) and 8.3% below its pre-sanitary crisis level (that is -64,100 jobs).

As a reminder, in this publication temporary workers are accounted for in the temporary employment sector which pays them (within market services), whichever sector they carry out their assignment (agriculture, industry, construction, market or non market services).

Excluding temporary work, private payroll employment was virtually stable in industry and decreased again in construction

In Q4 2024, payroll employment in agriculture was virtually stable (+0.1%) over a quarter (that is +400 jobs), and was almost at its level from a year ago (+0,1%).

Industrial payroll employment (excluding temporary work) was also virtually stable in Q4 2024 (-0.1% that is -2,800 jobs). It exceeded by 0.3% its Q4 2023 level and its pre-sanitary crisis level by 2.6%.

In construction, payroll employment (excluding temporary work) decreased for the eighth consecutive quarter: -0.6%, after a decrease of -0.2% in Q3 2024 (that is -9,600 jobs after -2,700 jobs). It was below it Q4 2023 level by 1.8% but still remained well above its pre-sanitary crisis level (+4.6%).

Private payment employment fell back in market services

In Q4 2024, payroll employment in market services (excluding temporary work) fell back for the first time since Q2 2013 (excluding 2020): -0.2% after +0.1% in the previous quarter (that is -25,300 jobs after +12,200 jobs). It exceeded its Q4 2023 level by 0.2% (that is +29,300 jobs) and its pre-sanitary crisis level by 7.3% (that is +0.9 million jobs). In market services, excluding temporary work, payroll employment decreased sharply in professional, scientific and technical activities (that is -14,600 jobs excluding temporary work) and, to a lesser extent, in information and communication (that is -8,200 jobs).

Payroll employment in non-market services fell back sharply by -0.4% in Q4 2024 after +0.3% in the previous quarter (that is -35,500 after +29,500 jobs). The decrease concerned both its public (-22,300 jobs) and private (-13,200 jobs) components. It topped its Q4 2023 level by 0.5% (that is +41,900 jobs) and its pre-sanitary crisis level by 3,6% (that is +0.3 million jobs).

Payroll employment change : thousands

SA data in thousand
Payroll employment change : thousands (SA data in thousand) - How to read it: In Q4 2024, private payroll employment in industry decreased by 2,800 compared to the previous quarter
Change in 3 months Change compared to the end of 2019 Change in 1 year Level
2024 2024 2024 2024 2024
Q3 Q4 Q4 Q4 Q4
Agriculture 0.5 0.4 20.4 0.3 322.2
Goods-producing industries excl. Construction 1.7 -2.8 84.1 9.7 3,271.0
of which : Manufacturing -0.2 -4.5 52.6 2.1 2,854.6
Construction -2.7 -9.6 68.4 -28.7 1,548.5
Market services 6.6 -42.5 793.4 -16.3 13,359.0
Temporary employment (*) -5.7 -17.1 -64.1 -45.6 711.7
Excluding temporary work 12.2 -25.3 857.4 29.3 12,647.3
Non-market services 29.5 -35.5 297.9 41.9 8,571.2
Total 35.6 -90.1 1,264.0 6.9 27,071.7
Private sector 16.8 -68.0 1,090.2 -25.2 21,035.7
Public service 18.8 -22.1 173.9 32.1 6,036.1
  • (*) Temporary workers are recorded in services, regardless of the sector in which they carry out their mission effectively.
  • How to read it: In Q4 2024, private payroll employment in industry decreased by 2,800 compared to the previous quarter
  • Scope: France excluding Mayotte.
  • Sources: Urssaf, Dares, INSEE

Payroll employment change: percentage

SA data in %
Payroll employment change: percentage (SA data in %)
Change in 3 months Chang compared to the end of 2019 Change in 1 year
2024 2024 2024 2024
Q3 Q4 Q4 Q4
Agriculture 0.2 0.1 6.8 0.1
Goods-producing industries excl. Construction 0.1 -0.1 2.6 0.3
of which : Manufacturing 0.0 -0.2 1.9 0.1
Construction -0.2 -0.6 4.6 -1.8
Market services 0.0 -0.3 6.3 -0.1
Temporary employment (*) -0.8 -2.3 -8.3 -6.0
Excluding temporary work 0.1 -0.2 7.3 0.2
Non-market services 0.3 -0.4 3.6 0.5
Total 0.1 -0.3 4.9 0.0
Private sector 0.1 -0.3 5.5 -0.1
Public service 0.3 -0.4 3.0 0.5
  • (*) Temporary workers are recorded in services, regardless of the sector in which they carry out their mission effectively.
  • Scope: France excluding Mayotte.
  • Sources: Urssaf, Dares, INSEE

Payroll employment change

SA data in thousands
Payroll employment change (SA data in thousands)
Code Naf rev. 2 Label Q4 2024
Change in 3 months Change in 1 year Level
Thousands Percentage Thousands Percentage Thousands
AZ Agriculture 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.1 322.2
DE Electricity, water supply, waste management 1.6 0.4 7.5 1.8 416.4
C1 Manufacture of food products beverage 1.5 0.2 8.6 1.4 645.7
C2 Manufacture of coke, and refined petroleum products 0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.1 8.7
C3 Manufacture of computer, electronic and electrical products -0.3 -0.1 1.3 0.3 419.6
C4 Manufacture of transport equipment -0.3 -0.1 2.4 0.7 365.9
C5 Other manufacturing -5.3 -0.4 -10.2 -0.7 1,414.6
FZ Construction -9.6 -0.6 -28.7 -1.8 1,548.5
GZ Wholesale and retail trade -1.6 0.0 -6.3 -0.2 3,389.8
HZ Transportation and storage 2.1 0.1 9.4 0.7 1,453.2
IZ Accommodation and food service activities 1.4 0.1 23.2 1.8 1,303.5
JZ Information and communication -8.2 -0.9 -14.9 -1.6 918.1
KZ Financial and insurance activities 0.6 0.1 6.8 0.7 921.1
LZ Real estate activities -1.8 -0.7 -9.0 -3.5 251.1
MN Professional, scientific and technical activities -31.8 -0.8 -32.5 -0.8 3,796.3
of which : Temporary employment (*) -17.1 -2.3 -45.6 -6.0 711.7
OQ Public administration and defence -35.5 -0.4 41.9 0.5 8,571.2
RU Other service activities -3.2 -0.2 7.0 0.5 1,325.9
  • (*) Temporary workers are recorded in services, regardless of the sector in which they carry out their mission effectively.
  • Scope: France excluding Mayotte.
  • Sources: Urssaf, Dares, INSEE

Private payroll employment increased sharply over the year for people aged 55 years old and more

In Q4 2024, private payroll employment kept rising sharply among people aged 55 years old and more: over a year, it rose by 2.8% (that is +104,500 jobs). In contrast, private payroll employment for people aged less than 30 years old declined (-0.5% over a year), as did that of people aged 30-54 years old (-0.9%).The respective trends for women and men were very similar over the quarter and over the year.

In the private sector, permanent contracts fell back slightly in Q4 2024, remaining above their Q3 2024 level (+0,4% that is +61,300 jobs) and their pre-sanitary crisis level (that is +0,9 million jobs). The number of fixed-term jobs (excluding work-study contracts) fell back slightly over the quarter and over a year, as did temporary work. Finally, work-study contracts rebounded slightly at the end of 2024 but remained clearly above its Q4 2023 level (+1.4%, that is+14,800 jobs), and very sharply above its pre-sanitary crisis level (+61,8% that is +0,4 million jobs).

Private payroll employment change by sex, age and contract type : thousands

SA data in thousand
Private payroll employment change by sex, age and contract type : thousands (SA data in thousand)
Change in 3 months Change compared to the end of 2019 Change in 1 year Level
2024 2024 2024 2024 2024
Q3 Q4 Q4 Q4 Q4
Sex
- Women 9.6 -35.9 448.8 -17.6 9,472.2
- Men 7.1 -32.1 641.4 -7.6 11,563.5
Age
- 15 to 29 -18.6 -20.9 567.6 -25.8 5,211.9
- 30 to 54 -10.4 -55.2 -2.7 -103.9 12,011.2
- 55 and more 45.7 8.1 525.3 104.5 3,812.6
Contract type
- Permanent contracts 70.1 -29.2 936.0 61.3 17,407.9
- Fixed-term contracts excluding work-study -23.3 -27.0 -205.8 -59.6 1,787.7
- Work-study -26.7 4.6 396.9 14.8 1,038.8
- Temporary work -5.7 -17.1 -64.1 -45.6 711.7
- Other contract 2.3 0.8 27.1 3.9 89.6
Total private payroll 16.8 -68.0 1,090.2 -25.2 21,035.7
  • Scope: France excluding Mayotte.
  • Sources: Urssaf, Dares, INSEE

Private payroll employment change by sex, age and contract type : percentage

SA data in %
Private payroll employment change by sex, age and contract type : percentage (SA data in %)
Change in 3 months Change compared to the end of 2019 Change in 1 year
2024 2024 2024 2024
Q3 Q4 Q4 Q4
Sex
- Women 0.1 -0.4 5.0 -0.2
- Men 0.1 -0.3 5.9 -0.1
Age
- 15 to 29 -0.4 -0.4 12.2 -0.5
- 30 to 54 -0.1 -0.5 0.0 -0.9
- 55 and more 1.2 0.2 16.0 2.8
Contract type
- Permanent contracts 0.4 -0.2 5.7 0.4
- Fixed-term contracts excluding work-study -1.3 -1.5 -10.3 -3.2
- Work-study -2.5 0.4 61.8 1.4
- Temporary work -0.8 -2.3 -8.3 -6.0
Total private payroll 0.1 -0.3 5.5 -0.1
  • Scope: France excluding Mayotte.
  • Sources: Urssaf, Dares, INSEE

Revisions

Compared to the employment detailed estimate published on 29 November 2024, the quarterly change in payroll employment (private and public) in Q3 2024 has been revised downwards by 13,100 jobs and its relative evolution downwards by 0.1 points. These revision is mainly visible in agriculture (-6,700 jobs) and mainly due to the inclusion of late declarations of seasonal contracts fewer than initially planned in this sector.

Compared to the flash estimate published on 7 February 2025, the payroll employment in the private sector alone in Q4 2024 has been revised downwards by 17,900 jobs, with its relative evolution revised downwards by 0.1 points. This revision is mainly due to a greater decrease in employment than initially estimated in private payroll employment in market services.

Revisions of payroll employment in Q3 2024 and Q4 2024

SA data in thousands
Revisions of payroll employment in Q3 2024 and Q4 2024 (SA data in thousands)
Q3 2024 Q4 2024
Payroll employment (29/11/2024) Private scope only (07/02/2025)
New estimate Revision New estimate Revision
Agriculture 0.5 -6.7 0.4 2.8
Goods-producing industries 1.7 1.5 -3.0 0.2
Construction -2.7 0.7 -9.6 -1.8
Market services 6.6 -3.4 -42.5 -5.9
Temporary work employment (*) -5.7 0.6 -17.1 -3.1
Excluding temporary work 12.2 -4.2 -25.4 -2.8
Non-market services 29.5 -5.2 -13.2 -13.1
Total 35.6 -13.1
Private sector 16.8 -10.2 -68.0 -17.9
Public service 18.8 -2.9
  • Scope: private payroll employment; France, excluding Mayotte.
  • (*) Temporary workers are recorded in services, regardless of the sector in which they carry out their mission effectively.
  • Sources: Urssaf, Dares, INSEE

For more information

Next flash estimate for the first quarter 2025: 7 May 2025 at 8:45 am

Next detailed estimate for the first quarter of 2025: 28 May 2025 at 8:45 am.

Pour en savoir plus

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