Employment in the French private sector started increasing in 2015 by creating 14,700 new job openings during the year, backed by temporary and third sector employment, according to data published on Tuesday by French social security central agency ACOSS (Central Agency for Social Security Organisations).

Last year, 1.5 million French companies employed 17.8 million people, which is 14,700 more compared with 2014.

ACOSS stated that these figures conceal a greater dynamism for 2015 with a 0.4% annual increase, corresponding to 70,000 new positions.

The temporary work sector showed an increase of 3.2% in 2015 (about 18,800 jobs), following growth of 2.6% in 2014.

In the industrial sector, the number of employees continues to decline at the same pace as in 2014 (down 1.2%, or 37,100 positions in 2015). In construction, there was a decrease of 3.0% in 2015, or 42,500 positions) following a decrease of 1.9% in 2014.

The tertiary sector, excluding temporary employment showed an increase of 0.6% in 2015 (75,700 jobs), after growing 0.4% the previous year.