In January 2014 there were 608,000 temporary workers in France, an increase of +7.7% compared with the same month last year, equating to an additional 43,500 temporary jobs, according to the latest statistics from the French job centre Pôle Emploi.

The largest increase in job number was for professionals and managers (cadres et professions intermédiaires), which reported a rise of +8.3% in January 2014 compared with the previous year. The number of unskilled blue-collar worker (ouvriers non qualifies) increased by +7.9%, and white collar workers (employés) reported a +7.4% year-on-year jump. The number of skilled blue-collar workers (ouvriers qualifies) rose during the period by +7.3%.

The relative proportions for the difference workers categories remained unchanged: skilled blue-collar (42.0%), unskilled blue-collar worker (35.5%), employees (12.3%), professionals and managers (10.2%).

In January, the seasonally adjusted average daily volume of temporary jobs was 404,100; an increase of +8.9% compared with a year ago.

Compared with a year ago, in January the number of temporary workers increased in 18 of France’s 22 regions. The biggest year-on-year hikes were reported in Picardie (+32.2%) and Champagne-Ardenne (+27.5%), followed by Bourgogne (+17.8%) and Centre (+14.5%). Only two regions saw a decline: Languedoc-Roussillon (-8.0%) and Haute-Normandie (-4.3%).  

Of the three primary sectors covered by the report, only the Industrial sector reported an increase in the number of temporary workers (+3.8%) for January 2014, compared with December 2013; the increase was primarily led by the Food and beverage industry (+7%), while the weakest was the manufacturing of transport related equipment (-1.3%). The number of temporary workers in the Retail and business services sector decreased by -3.6% on a monthly basis, led by Transports and logistics. The construction sector declined by -3.6% over the same period.

To read the full report in French, click here.