Overview

• Recruitment projections for 2025 have fallen to 2.4 million, a 12.5% decline from 2024 and the lowest level since before the pandemic.
• Only 24.1% of French companies intend to hire this year, marking the lowest recruitment intent since 2018 and a significant drop from 28.2% in 2024.
• Small enterprises, particularly those with fewer than 10 employees, are experiencing the steepest declines, with hiring intentions down by 16.3%.
• Economic and political instability are cited as key factors contributing to reduced hiring, alongside broader market caution.
• France Travail has introduced measures to counteract the downturn, including shortened recruitment timelines and job creation initiatives targeting 30,000 new roles.