2007 booming year for employment

The creation of 384,000 new jobs in France in 2007 makes it the best year for employment since 2000 according to a study.

Paris-based economic study group COE-Rexecode found that although economic growth remained in line with previous years – the number of new jobs created was three times higher when compared to the past seven years.

The study said that France’s employment rate was now close to reaching the European average.

It concluded: “This alignment with European levels could be interpreted as an encouraging sign of a jobs market that is working much better.”

New jobs were concentrated in the building sector and in business services.

The study also noted a shift in business patterns with the size of new French businesses shrinking. In 2002 the average new business employed 0.9 workers, while in 2006 the figure dropped to 0.6. Last year 87% of new business had no employees beyond their founder, compared to 77.5% in 2000.

Photo:Star-one