Construction remains the leading sector for temporary recruitment despite an 8% decline

However, the volume of offers remains high at nearly 2,5 million publications, comparable to the levels observed during the same period in 2023.

Other main lessons:

• Permanent contracts down (-12%) and fixed-term contracts up (+18%): companies are banking on flexibility.
• Alternation programs are down sharply (-19%), impacted by the reduction in public aid.
• Grand Est (-5%) and PACA (-1%) are holding up better than the national average.
• The only metropolis to see growth, Nice recorded a 10% increase in offers over the quarter.
• Health, social and personal services are major providers of jobs (34% of published offers).
• Construction remains the leading sector for temporary recruitment despite a decline of -8%.
• The naval industry grew by +18%, driven by major shipyards in the West.

A declining market but signs of calm

This third quarter marks the continuation of the downward trend that began at the beginning of the year, with an 8% decrease in offers compared to the third quarter of 2024. This contraction is nevertheless less marked than that of the second quarter of 2025 (-11%). The summer months were particularly difficult (-9%), but September suggests a slight improvement with a decline limited to -6% compared to last year. In an unstable political and social context, marked in particular by the resignation of the Prime Minister, no wait-and-see effect is visible: companies seem to be getting used to this climate of uncertainty and are continuing their recruitment at an adjusted pace.

For David Beaurepaire, Deputy Director of HelloWork: "The job market is still experiencing turbulence, but the signs from September give cause for optimism. Companies continue to recruit, although they are increasingly prioritizing the flexibility of short-term contracts in certain sectors. The extent of the slowdown appears to be contained, and some sectors are showing strong momentum. This clearly illustrates that, despite political and economic uncertainties, the need for skills remains high and that opportunities remain plentiful for candidates."

Contracts that reflect the search for flexibility

Permanent contracts recorded a further sharp decline year-on-year (-12%), continuing a trend observed since October 2024 and confirmed in the second quarter (-11%). At the same time, fixed-term contracts increased significantly (+18%), particularly in August and September, driven by the rise in personal services. Temporary work continued to trend downward (-10%), but the drop appears less drastic than in the previous quarter, and September's data suggests stabilization after nine months of continuous decline. Finally, work-study contracts recorded a spectacular drop (-19%), which can be explained by the dual impact of the reduction in state aid since April and the increase in costs since July. Traditionally driven by positive momentum from March to July, work-study contracts this year saw a concentrated increase in March and April alone, before falling sharply in May.

Territories affected unequally

All regions are affected by the slowdown, but the intensity varies by region. Île-de-France, the leading region for employment, is holding up relatively better than average (-6,5%). Conversely, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, usually the second most dynamic region, is recording a marked decline of -10%. The sharpest declines are observed in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (-15%), Pays de la Loire (-15%), and Occitanie (-11%). However, some regions are showing notable resilience, such as Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (-1%) and Grand Est (-5%).

Major cities under pressure, except Nice

The Greater Paris metropolitan area alone accounts for 37% of urban supply and shows a contained decline of -7%. Conversely, several major metropolitan areas are experiencing significant corrections, notably Nantes and Toulouse (-20% each), Bordeaux (-18%), and Lille (-18%). Nice is an exception: the metropolis is experiencing a +10% increase in supply, which allows it to move up a place in the national ranking and overtake Strasbourg.

Among the industrial sectors suffering, health and personal services stand out

The health and social care sector remains the leading provider of jobs, despite an overall decline of 7%, mainly due to the decline in permanent contracts. However, fixed-term contracts and work-study contracts remain on the rise. Personal and business services now represent the second largest sector in terms of job openings (16%). However, the situation is clearly deteriorating in design offices and R&D (-36%), as well as in all industrial sectors, which are experiencing declines of 22% to 33% depending on the sector (production, maintenance, industrial engineering). In this tense landscape, accounting, management, and finance are holding their own, with an overall increase of 3%, particularly marked in permanent positions (+4%).

Construction remains the leading sector for temporary recruitment despite a decline

Construction and public works remain the leading provider of temporary employment, but the sector recorded a further 8% decline in the third quarter, following a decline already observed in the spring. The difficulties are even more pronounced in the industrial sectors, where production and maintenance are down 15%, logistics, supply chain and transport by 21%, and industrial engineering by 16%. These sectors are directly affected by the economic situation, as evidenced by production shutdowns at several automotive plants and the decline in sales, which are permanently weakening their activity.

The good performance of the naval industry

In a generally unfavorable context, shipbuilding stands out as an exception. The sector recorded 1.218 job offers published in the third quarter, an increase of 18% year-on-year. This dynamic is explained by strong demand for technical professions, such as methods technicians, CAD/CAM technicians, welders, and boilermakers. Activity is largely concentrated in the West, with 69% of recruitments in Pays de la Loire and 12% in Brittany, two regions that saw increases of 27% and 37% respectively. Conversely, the PACA region recorded a 15% decline in offers in this sector.

Health and social care professions still in the lead

Healthcare professions are at the top of the list of most sought-after profiles, with high demand for nurses, nursing assistants, and personal care workers. On permanent contracts, accounting, personal care, and restaurant staff positions dominate. On fixed-term contracts, teaching, childcare, and nursing professions are the most common. On the temporary side, companies are primarily looking for forklift drivers, production operators, and nurses. Finally, work-study programs are driven by recruitment of personal care workers, communications managers, and sales consultants.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.