Insee Première · January 2026 · n° 2091

Between 2016 and 2022, salaried employment in retail outlets grew faster outside city-centre hubs

In 2022, in France, two-thirds of retail outlets (shops, catering, hairdressing salons, etc.) were concentrated in 6,700 commercial hubs. Slightly less than half of them were city‑centre hubs, mainly consisting of small establishments located along shopping streets, unlike suburban hubs, those being primarily located in non‑residential areas.

Between 2016 and 2022, salaried employment in retail outlets grew more slowly in city‑centre hubs (+1.1% per year) than in suburban hubs (+1.6%) or in outlets located outside hubs (+1.8%). These trends also varied by business sectors. Salaried employment decreased in the retail sale of personal goods (clothing, footwear, etc.), while it grew strongly in food and beverage serving activities, particularly for fast food restaurants. In city‑centre hubs, three out of ten employees worked in beverage serving activities.

Salaried employment in commercial hubs grew faster in tourist‑oriented living zones or in living zones experiencing population growth.