Faced with the explosion of social plans and bankruptcies, the government is under pressure. While the French fear an employment crisis, the executive hesitates to question its economic policy.
The Prime Minister announced the establishment of a task force intended to contain the employment crisis and to meet the expectations of unions and businesses. He decided to mobilize all the vital forces of the nation to propose lasting solutions.
Industrial sectors, such as automobiles and chemicals, are hard hit by social plans, leading to a significant deterioration in the employment situation.job.
Agricultural anger and budgetary challenges
Michel Barnier is currently facing a series of major crises. The agricultural world has been expressing its anger since Monday through a national movement initiated by the FNSEA and Young Farmers. At the same time, discontent is growing in the public service and other sectors, while it is up to him to construct a 2025 budget which will have to make 60 billion euros in savings. This task promises to be difficult, with a public deficit reaching 6.1% of GDP and a national debt exceeding 3,230 billion euros.
This situation fuels the concern of the unions, particularly on the question ofjob. According to Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, the plans for dismissal explode: “ In May, we had identified 130 plans in progress; today, we are approaching 200 “, she said. She attributes this economic crisis to the failure of the government's supply-side policy, considered costly and ineffective. For his part, Thierry Millon, from Altares, warns of a possible increase in business failures to 67,000 this year, threatening around 300,000 jobs through their chain effects.
The uncertainty of ETIs and SMEs
Businesses, particularly mid-sized companies and SMEs, are also experiencing this uncertainty. The recent dissolution and the vagueness surrounding the 2025 fiscal framework exacerbate their concerns, while the international economic context remains tense. The Palatine-METI barometer underlines that the planned increase in compulsory contributions could limit their ability to invest, create jobs or innovate, thereby compromising national competitiveness. For SMEs, investment intentions are also declining, falling by 11 points over one year.
On the tax front, the president of Medef, Patrick Martin, has revived the debate around social VAT, estimating that an increase of one point could bring in 10 billion euros. However, the government is not planning such measures for the moment. It seeks a balance between support for employees, reduction of deficits and preservation of the competitiveness of businesses, a crucial challenge to avoid an increase in unemployment, a concern shared by a large majority of French people.
