In September 2013 there were 578,300 temporary workers in France, an increase of +0.4% compared with the same month last year, equating to an additional 2,400 temporary jobs. However, according to the latest statistics from the French job centre Pôle Emploi, the number of temporary workers fell by -2.8% from August 2013, equating to a loss of 16,900 jobs.

The biggest drop in job number was for professionals and managers (cadres et professions intermédiaires), which reported a fall of -5.5% in September 2013 compared with the previous year. White collar workers (employés) reported a -0.8% drop, while unskilled blue-collar worker (ouvriers non qualifies) numbers fell by -0.4%. The number of skilled blue-collar workers (ouvriers qualifies) rose during the period by +2.7%.

In September the seasonally adjusted average daily volume of temporary jobs was 390,000; an increase of +6.3% compared with a year ago, and an increase of +1.4% compared with the previous month.

Compared with a year ago, the number of temporary workers increased in 13 of France’s 22 regions. The biggest year-on-year increase was reported in Champagne-Ardenne with +19.8%, followed by Basse-Normandie with +18.7%. The biggest year-on-year declines were reported in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur with -9.2% and in Languedoc-Roussillon with -8.2%.   

The three primary sectors covered by the report all reported month-on-month declines in the number of temporary jobs in September 2013; industry (-1.5%), construction (-2.1%), and business (-4.9%). Across all of the major sectors only the manufacturing of electrical equipment reported growth in the number of temporary jobs with +1.3%.

To read the full report in French, click here.