ESS employment in France remains significant

The social and solidarity economy (ESS) in France employs 2.7 million people, making up 10.3% of the country’s salaried workforce as of the end of 2025. Despite a decline of 10,400 jobs between December 2024 and December 2025, the sector is showing signs of recovery in managerial recruitment.

Managerial job growth in the ESS sector

In the first half of 2026, the French job placement agency Apec listed 10,200 managerial job offers in the ESS, a 4% increase from the previous year. This growth contrasts with a 2% decline in the overall managerial job market, and the ESS now accounts for 4.9% of all managerial job offers.

Associations dominate ESS hiring

Associations are the primary recruiters in the ESS, accounting for 66% of all managerial job announcements. Mutuals, cooperatives, and foundations follow with 13%, 11%, and 10% respectively. Services dominate the ESS job market, making up 97% of all managerial offers, compared to 72% in the broader managerial market.

Regional differences in ESS job offers

The ESS sector shows strong regional disparities in managerial job offers. Brittany leads with 7.3% of such offers, followed by Normandy and Burgundy-Franche-Comté at 6.8% each, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine at 6.6%. These differences are partly due to the high density of cooperatives in Brittany and Burgundy-Franche-Comté, the agricultural focus in Normandy, and the presence of mutuals in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Lower salaries and more temporary contracts in ESS

Despite increasing job opportunities, managerial positions in the ESS sector offer less favorable conditions. The median annual gross salary for ESS managerial roles is 41,000 euros, compared to 45,000 euros in the broader market. Mutuals offer the highest salaries at 45,000 euros, while associations offer 40,000 euros on average. Temporary contracts are also more common, with 26% in foundation offers and 20% in association offers, compared to only 7% across the entire managerial market.

ESS managers have more responsibilities but lower pay

Managers already working in the ESS sector often hold more hierarchical responsibilities, with nearly 48% in such roles compared to 39% in the private sector as a whole. However, their median annual salary remains lower at 50,000 euros gross, compared to 54,000 euros for other managers.

ESS job seekers have distinct profiles

Candidates applying exclusively to ESS employers are more likely to be women, with 67% of applicants compared to 43% in other sectors. They also tend to have more experience, with 61% having at least ten years of professional experience, compared to 49% in other groups. These candidates are more likely to hold university degrees, with 46% having one, compared to 30% in other groups. Graduates in social and human sciences are particularly overrepresented, with 23% compared to 3% in other candidate groups. Many of these individuals seek roles in human resources, health, and social support.