Housing, aging, accessibility: making elevators a public priority by 2027

A discreet but essential piece of infrastructure, the elevator is much more than a technical piece of equipment: it is a pillar of daily mobility, a facilitator of inclusion and a concrete lever for living together.

3 key figures

• €2,83 billion in revenue by 2025
• 94% of French people consider replacing outdated elevators a priority.
• 72% of French people are regular elevator users (Source: IPSOS 2026 barometer "The French and the elevator")

A solid sector facing the urgent need for renovation

With a turnover of 2,83 billion euros in 2025 (+1,1% vs 2024) and a fleet of 661.000 devices in service, the elevator sector shows overall sluggish growth, which masks strong disparities: sales of new devices have fallen sharply (-9%, or 10.100 units), reaching their lowest level in ten years, reflecting the slowdown in new construction.

Conversely, the modernization segment is progressing: +8,5% in 2025 to 255 million euros, reflecting an awareness: the existing stock is aging (40% of elevators are over 25 years old and 25% are over 40 years old) and must be adapted to contemporary challenges.

According to the recent IPSOS 2026 barometer for the French Elevator Federation, 1 in 2 users is aware that the elevator they use dates from before the year 2000. An aging stock, of which a very large majority...

The French believe that renovation is necessary for the oldest devices – and especially in a society marked by an aging population and increasing urbanization, the renovation of elevators is an essential condition for universal, inclusive and sustainable mobility.

According to Florence Bigé, re-elected president of the French Elevator Federation: “94% of French people consider replacing outdated elevators a priority in building renovations, and 80% support a mandatory annual provision to finance their modernization. These figures send a clear signal to public authorities and property owners.”

Municipal elections 2026, presidential election 2027: decisive political opportunities to bring the elevator into the public debate

With new municipal mandates and the approach of 2027, the Federation calls for full recognition of the strategic role of the elevator and underlines the need to integrate it into public policies.

Adapting housing to aging, guaranteeing accessibility, supporting the renovation of co-owned properties, contributing to the ecological transition or strengthening the attractiveness of territories: the elevator is an immediate operational lever to meet demographic and urban challenges.

The elevator plays a crucial role in enabling seniors to remain in their homes, promoting independence for people with reduced mobility, ensuring access to housing for all, and enhancing the quality of life in cities. A true "facilitator of social connection," it contributes to a more inclusive, fluid, and humane society.

Roadmap 2026: Accelerate, modernize, anticipate

Faced with these challenges, the French Elevator Federation is deploying a roadmap structured around operational priorities.

Accelerate the modernization of the existing fleet

The Federation calls for the full integration of elevators into renovation policies, the removal of technical and financial barriers, and the encouragement of proactive planning in co-owned properties. It emphasizes the need for massive investment and the maintenance of existing elevator stock: insufficient funding disproportionately affects the most vulnerable and necessitates collective action.

Modernizing elevators means investing in mobility accessible to all and in a more equitable living environment.

Strengthening security and anticipating regulatory changes

The profession continues its commitment to anticipating regulatory changes, strengthening the safety and reliability of equipment and developing the digitalization of the fleet (predictive maintenance, AI, connectivity).

Technological innovation is now a key lever for improving the performance, availability and safety of elevators.

Supporting societal and environmental transitions

The Federation is intensifying its actions in the areas of circular economy, equipment reuse, and energy efficiency. A modernized elevator can achieve up to 70% energy savings, directly contributing to the environmental performance of buildings.

The elevator thus establishes itself as a concrete player in the ecological transition and the sustainable city.

Attracting talent and preparing for the future of the sector

Faced with growing needs (the sector recruits nearly 1.000 technicians per year), the profession is intensifying its efforts to promote the trades, notably through its platform etreascensoriste.fr, strengthening partnerships with vocational high schools and apprenticeship training centers, encouraging career changes and promoting the feminization of teams.

A sector of the future, which cannot be outsourced, the elevator industry is an engine of sustainable and skilled jobs at the heart of local communities.

Making the elevator a subject of public policy

In this context, the Federation wishes to strengthen the dialogue with local elected officials, parliamentarians and all housing stakeholders in order to have the elevator recognized as an essential daily infrastructure, at the crossroads of housing policies, autonomy and ecological transition.

For Florence Bigé: “Housing, aging, accessibility: elevators are at the heart of the major public policy challenges of the coming years. The decisions made in the upcoming municipal mandates and with a view to 2027 will be crucial in accelerating the modernization of elevator infrastructure and guaranteeing vertical mobility for the French people. Our ambition is clear: to make our sector an essential partner in public policy, serving a more inclusive and sustainable society.”

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.