France short-time work share: construction
France short-time work share: construction stood at 0.22% 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 Q1 2018 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-time work base as a share of the gross wage bill | |||||||||||
| Construction | 0.22 | 0.54 | 0.18 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.12 | 0.17 | 0.43 | |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.08 |
Understanding france short-time work share: construction
Publicly funded wage compensation ratios dedicated to curtailed working hours within construction enterprises measure state-backed income support relative to total sectoral payroll. The scope spans civil engineering, specialized building trades, and residential or commercial construction, excluding real estate services. This construction-specific metric isolates an industry highly vulnerable to weather conditions, financing costs, and public infrastructure spending cycles. The denominator aggregates all gross wages and salaries paid by construction employers, providing a direct gauge of government intervention during sector-wide downturns.
Seasonality is a dominant force in this series, as winter freezing temperatures and customary summer holiday construction stoppages predictably inflate idle-hour compensation ratios. Analysts must evaluate period-on-period changes cautiously, preferring seasonally adjusted data or year-on-year comparisons to filter out weather anomalies. Revisions are frequent and often substantial as independent contractors and subcontractors reconcile complex site-by-site labor declarations. Comparing construction metrics directly with manufacturing or administrative services yields misleading conclusions given the outdoor, project-based nature of building work.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this construction indicator include real estate agency activities?
- No, coverage is restricted to physical construction, building trades, and civil engineering.
- How do weather patterns influence construction short-time work shares?
- Winter weather and summer holiday shutdowns cause predictable seasonal spikes in compensated idle hours.
- Why are revisions common in construction employment and wage datasets?
- Subcontractors and independent builders frequently submit delayed administrative declarations for site-specific work stoppages.