Insee Focus · November 2025 · n° 368

Foreign-controlled job in France in 2023  Half of French foreign-controlled jobs depended on companies from European Union countries

In 2023, 19,100 foreign-controlled companies employed 2.3 million people in France. This represented 1% of companies in the mainly non‑agricultural and non‑financial market sectors, and 13% of the workforce. 58% of foreign‑controlled jobs were in the industrial and trade sectors. Foreign groups had a strong presence in the border areas of northeastern France and in the Île‑de‑France region. Furthermore, 17% of the value added produced in France was generated by foreign multinational companies, compared with 40% by French ones. Finally, they accounted for 16% of tangible investments made in France. Half of the jobs and 58% of foreign‑controlled investments in France were generated by multinational firms from other European Union countries.