France private employment: basic metals and products
France private employment: basic metals and products stood at 356,976 persons in Q2 2026, according to URSSAF – Union de recouvrement des cotisations de sécurité sociale et d'allocations familiales. It is one of the indicators in the Private employment and short-time work (URSSAF) table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q3 1998 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Private employment and short-time work (URSSAF) table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private employment by sector | |||||||||||
| Basic metals and metal products | 356,976 | 358,812 | 360,591 | 362,530 | 363,041 | 364,860 | 366,742 | 368,132 | 369,200 | 370,270 | |
| Computer, electronic and optical products | 136,720 | 136,492 | 136,477 | 136,610 | 136,317 | 136,285 | 135,844 | 135,408 | 135,357 | 134,806 |
Understanding france private employment: basic metals and products
This metric records the headcount of salaried workers engaged in smelting raw metals, casting shapes, forging components, and fabricating finished metal goods. It is distinct from machinery manufacturing and mineral extraction through its focus on metallurgical transformation and metal product assembly. The enumeration covers foundry workers, metal machinists, structural fabricators, and enterprise administrative staff. Independent metal recyclers and freelance craftspeople without formal corporate payroll status are omitted.
Reading this dataset involves watching for cyclical shifts in industrial demand, particularly from construction and equipment manufacturing sectors. Seasonal plant shutdowns, especially during summer months, introduce intra-year variance that makes year-on-year comparisons preferable for trend analysis. Early estimates undergo periodic revision as enterprise administrative returns are reconciled. Users should avoid mixing this metal fabrication total with machinery, transport equipment, or primary mining series.
Frequently asked questions
- What activities are included in basic metals and products?
- Metal smelting, casting, forging, and the fabrication of metal goods and structures.
- Does this row cover machinery manufacturing?
- No, general machinery and equipment production is tracked in a separate dedicated category.
- How do seasonal shutdowns affect the figures?
- Summer holiday factory closures create recurring dips, which year-on-year comparisons help smooth out.