Foreign-controlled companies employ more than 2 million people in France, according to INSEE

Companies under foreign control in France employed 2.3 million people in 2022 in the main sectors, or 13% of the workforce while they represent only 1% of companies in number, according to an INSEE study published on Tuesday. These 18,800 companies in the sectors mainly “non-agricultural merchants” et “non-financial”which generate 17% of the added value produced in France, are also very present in Île-de-France and in the border areas of the north and east: for example, German multinationals represent almost half of the employment under foreign control in the employment zones of Haguenau, Sarreguemines and Forbach.

The main employers are American (504,300 jobs), German (347,300) and Swiss (267,800). The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Luxembourg each have companies that employ more than 100,000 people in total. Half of jobs in France under foreign control depend on European Union (EU) countries, explains the National Institute of Statistics, and in total, 96% of employment under foreign control is grouped in companies controlled by 15 countries, out of the 119 represented in France.

A preponderant part of the interim

Furthermore, 44% of jobs in France under foreign control are in mid-sized companies (ETI) and 41% in large companies. For comparison, French multinational firms have 29% of their jobs in France in mid-sized companies and 65% in large companies. Around a third (762,000) of jobs under foreign control are in industry, 24% in commerce and 20% in administrative and support services, indicates INSEE.

The share of temporary work, observes the Institute, is preponderant in this last sector because the three main agencies present in France (Adecco, Manpower and Randstad) are foreign: 16% of jobs under foreign control are thus in temporary work. Only 2% are found in construction. These companies make three times less tangible investments on French soil than French companies: with 41 billion euros in 2022, their overall investment represents 18% of their added value excluding tax in France, compared to 22% for French companies. This is explained, according to INSEE, by their weak presence in the very capital-intensive electricity or gas sector. On the other hand, their investment rate is slightly higher than that of French multinationals in manufacturing and commerce.