Labor tensions drop in France

A study by Dares and France Travail, published on October 22, 2026, shows that jobs with strong or very strong tension represented 46% of total employment in 2025, down from 56% in 2024. This marks the lowest level of labor market tension since 2017, outside of the sanitary crisis period.

Hiring challenges remain common

Despite the overall decrease, more than half of the jobs studied in 2025 are still classified as having hiring difficulties. This is down from nearly two-thirds in 2024, but the decline varies depending on job qualifications and industry sectors.

Economic activity affects hiring

The decrease in labor market tensions does not mean hiring has increased. When companies hire less, they compete less for the same candidates. Therefore, the Dares results should be considered alongside broader economic activity and labor trends.

Hiring data shows mixed results

According to Dares, 6,603,800 hires were recorded in the private sector in Metropolitan France during the second quarter of 2026. This represents a 0.5% increase from the previous quarter, but permanent contract hires decreased by 0.9%, continuing a downward trend from the prior quarter.

Local conditions affect job availability

While national statistics show a general easing of hiring pressures, local conditions can still make certain positions difficult to fill. Jobs requiring rare skills, demanding hours, or poor working conditions may remain hard to staff even when hiring slows overall.

Employer hiring intentions show decline

France Travail’s annual survey, Labor Needs, reports that employers planned 2.28 million hiring projects for 2026, with 43.8% considered difficult. This is a decrease from 50.1% in 2025, indicating a shift from widespread hiring shortages to more specific challenges.