France machinery & equipment expected workforce balance (SA)
France machinery & equipment expected workforce balance (SA) stood at -5.2 Balance of opinion (%) in Sep 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the INSEE business surveys table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2003 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the INSEE business surveys table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | |||||||||||
| Monthly economic outlook survey in the manufacturing industry - Expected trend in the workforce - Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c - SA series | -5.2 | -2.9 | -1.6 | -2.1 | -4.4 | 0.1 | 3.6 | -5.3 | 3.1 | 1.5 | |
| Monthly economic outlook survey in the manufacturing industry - Expected trend in the workforce - Manufacture of other transport equipment - SA series | 23.7 | 28.7 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 19.7 | 14.2 | 23.9 | 23.8 | 24.2 | 11.1 |
Understanding france machinery & equipment expected workforce balance (SA)
Managing directors steering specialized industrial machinery plants, power tools factories, and general-purpose equipment workshops report their short-term hiring intentions on a monthly basis. The calculated balance captures the net difference between respondents anticipating staff growth and those preparing for workforce reductions within this specific capital goods sector. Unlike electrical or automotive groupings, this measure focuses directly on mechanical engineering firms, reflecting specialized demand for industrial machinery and mechanical components.
Seasonal adjustment removes recurring calendar shifts associated with annual plant holidays and equipment delivery cycles. Analysts evaluate consecutive monthly changes in the balance to detect shifts in mechanical sector momentum. Early estimates are subject to revision as late survey submissions are integrated into the final publication. Comparing this series with broader manufacturing metrics reveals whether capital goods producers hold stronger or weaker staffing prospects than the wider industrial economy.
Frequently asked questions
- Which businesses participate in this machinery survey?
- Firms manufacturing general-purpose machinery, power tools, and industrial equipment provide these responses.
- What does a negative balance of opinion signify here?
- A negative balance indicates that more machinery plant directors plan to reduce staff than expect to increase it.
- Why compare this series with general manufacturing?
- Comparing them shows if capital goods hiring deviates from the wider industrial average.