After decades of decline, French industry must rise to the challenge of reindustrialization. Between sovereignty, innovation and sustainability, Made in France can once again become a strategic asset
After its golden age of the 1950s, when it competed with Germany, French industry began a gradual decline from the 1970s. In four decades, this deindustrialization destroyed thousands of jobs, erased know-how making it valuable and increased our dependence abroad. The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed these weaknesses: shortages of masks, dependence on vaccines, and disruptions in the supply of strategic components such as semiconductors. These flaws have shown how essential the industry is to national sovereignty.
Today, the diagnosis is worrying. The manufacturing industry represents around 11% of French GDP, compared to 16% on average in the European Union. The gap is even more obvious in terms of employment: French industry employs 3.2 million workers, while Germany has 7.5 million. However, industry plays a central role: it structures the economy, energizes the territories, and guarantees the technological independence of the country.
To achieve the objective of an industry representing 12% of GDP by 2030, it would be necessary to create between 580,000 and 740,000 additional industrial jobs. This challenge is immense and unavoidable if France wants to return to sustainable growth.
Despite government initiatives, such as France Relance and France 2030, endowed with 65 billion euros, aimed at revitalizing the industrial sector, the results remain mixed. In 2023, France recorded a positive balance with the opening of 57 new factories, resulting from 170 openings and 113 closures. However, this trend reversed in 2024, with more factory closures than openings, signaling a worrying slowdown in reindustrialization. At the same time, major companies are announcing significant social plans. For example, Michelin announced the closure of its factories in Cholet and Vannes, resulting in the loss of 1,254 jobs.
-Historically recognized for its excellence in luxury, France must today establish itself as a key player in industrial innovation. Made in France, a symbol of quality, must once again become a competitive advantage for French companies. This involves promoting traditional know-how, but also massive investments in sectors of the future, such as renewable energies, batteries, and industry 4.0.
Reindustrialization cannot be limited to simple relocation. It must be accompanied by a transition towards sustainable and competitive processes, in response to environmental and climatic challenges. In this context, green industry can become a strategic asset, transforming ecological constraints into economic opportunities.
Reindustrializing France is not only an economic issue: it is a question of sovereignty. Businesses must invest in cutting-edge technologies. Territories must capitalize on their assets to attract ambitious projects. And citizens have a central role: by supporting Made in France, they strengthen local jobs and sectors of the future.
France can once again become a European and global industrial leader. It is by reinventing our model around innovation, sustainability and know-how that we will build a strong, resilient industry that is up to the challenges of the 21st century.
