2024-11-08 11:42:00
16% of salaried jobs have a precarious status in 2023 (temporary work, fixed-term or apprenticeship contracts) [[1]according to our calculations based on INSEE data. This level is twice as high as that observed in the 1980s. The increase in precarious employment was very strong from the mid-1980s to the end of the 1990s: the rate of precariousness then increased from 7% to 13.8%. in 2000. After a stabilization phase, it started to rise again at the end of the 2000s, reaching 16% in 2017. Since then, job insecurity seems to have remained at this high level. [[2].
*CDD, interim and apprentices reported to salaried employment.
Lecture : in 2023, 16% of employees have a precarious contract.
Source : calculations from the Society Observation Center according to INSEE – © Observatory of Inequalities
Data Chart
However, salaried employment is far from being precarious as a whole. The first to be affected are those with few qualifications and young people. Among those under 25, the precariousness rate rose from 19% of employees in 1982 to 49% in 1999. It has since exceeded 50% to even reach 59% in 2016. It fell slightly from 2017 and now stands at 56%. Our data includes apprenticeship contracts: these are indeed precarious jobs because the duration of this type of contract is limited; but, it is true, apprenticeship is part of training which allows you to obtain a qualification.
*CDD, temporary work and apprentices reported to salaried employment
Lecture : in 2023, 55.9% of employees under 25 have precarious employment.
Source : calculations from the Center for Observation of Society according to Insee – © Observatory of Inequalities
Data Chart
Precarious employment is increasing among both men and women. Although the latter are more often affected (16.6% compared to 15.2%), the gap with men is narrowing compared to the 1980s and 1990s.
*CDD, temporary work and apprentices reported to salaried employment
Lecture : in 2023, 16.6% of employed women have a precarious contract.
Source : calculations from the Center for Observation of Society according to Insee – © Observatory of Inequalities
Data Chart
The stabilization of the rate of precarious employment in paid employment since 2017 is astonishing. The drop in unemployment should have led to a reduction in the number of short contracts in favor of those of indefinite duration. But the drop in the number of job seekers is in reality linked, in part, to a considerable increase in apprenticeship contracts.
Job insecurity has profoundly changed the labor market. By reducing life horizons, in particular by preventing young people from integrating sustainably into society, it fuels concerns and social tensions. The whole question is how we can move from an overall decline in the number of job seekers, which has continued for ten years, to an improvement in the quality of jobs and particularly the sustainability of their status.
Excerpt from “Work insecurity has doubled in forty years”Society Observation Center, September 2024.
Photo / © Unsplash
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#Job #insecurity #doubled #forty #years
**Title: Precarious Employment in France: A Steep Rise**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Dr. Julie Martin, labor economist and researcher at the Society Observation Center. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent data on precarious employment in France.
**Dr. Martin:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to talk about such an important issue.
**Interviewer:** According to your calculations based on INSEE data, 16% of salaried jobs in 2023 were classified as precarious. How does this compare to historical data?
**Dr. Martin:** Yes, that’s correct. It’s quite alarming that the precarious employment rate has doubled since the 1980s. Back then, around 8% of salaried jobs were precarious, while by 2023, this figure has risen to 16%. The most significant increase occurred from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, suggesting a long-term trend of job instability.
**Interviewer:** Your research highlights that young people are the most affected demographic, with precariousness rates for those under 25 reaching an alarming 56% in 2023. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Martin:** Absolutely. The statistics are stark. We saw that precariousness among youth shot up from 19% in 1982 to over 50% by the late 1990s and hovering at about 56% today. This reflects not only job challenges but also the struggle young workers face in establishing stable careers and integrating into society.
**Interviewer:** Are there differences in precarious employment between genders, and if so, what do the latest figures show?
**Dr. Martin:** Yes, while both men and women experience precariousness, women are slightly more affected—16.6% compared to 15.2% for men. However, the gap has closed compared to previous decades, indicating that precarious work is an increasing reality for all genders.
**Interviewer:** What has led to this stabilization of precarious employment rates since 2017, despite a reduction in overall unemployment?
**Dr. Martin:** That’s an intriguing point. The stabilization appears paradoxical, as you’d expect improving unemployment figures to correlate with more stable, long-term jobs. However, the decrease in job seekers has partly been due to a rise in apprenticeship contracts, which, while providing training, also perpetuate a cycle of temporary employment without guaranteed long-term security.
**Interviewer:** With such high rates of job insecurity, what social implications does this have, particularly for the youth?
**Dr. Martin:** Well, job insecurity severely affects life horizons, particularly for young adults. It can lead to increased anxiety and social tension as they struggle to achieve economic independence. Ultimately, we must address not just the numbers but also the experiences of those affected—finding solutions that lead to better quality jobs is crucial for social stability.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Martin, for sharing these insights. It seems that understanding and addressing the roots of precarious employment will be vital for improving the labor market in France.
**Dr. Martin:** Thank you for shedding light on this issue. The conversation must continue as we seek to foster a more stable and equitable job market.
