The lobby of large companies highlights their contribution to the French economy

The survey, which was in its tenth edition but which until now had rarely been highlighted to the general public, shows that the members of the French association of private enterprises alone represented 13% of market GDP (goods and services sold and purchased) in 2024, employed 2,1 million employees in France, or 12% of private employment, and 8,1 million in total worldwide.

Above all, Afep points out, they paid 85,1 billion euros in compulsory levies, or 19% of the total paid by companies.

The association expects this total to increase by a further 10% in 2025, due to the increases voted in this year's budget (corporate tax surcharge, removal of tax breaks, etc.).

Member companies in France pay a total of 164 billion euros in wages, and Afep notes that the average monthly salary, 3.339 euros net, is 22% higher than the national average.

They also announced that they will have distributed 13,8 billion euros in employee savings through profit-sharing and incentive schemes in 2024, representing 32% of the national total, or 3.648 euros per employee per year.

These companies also carry out, according to the survey, 50% of French private research, with 20 billion euros of expenditure on research and development, and 110.000 researchers.

In total, according to Afep, the value that its companies produce in France is divided as follows: 60% for employees, 20% for investment, 15% for compulsory levies and 5% for shareholders.

The survey "confirms the decisive contribution of large companies to the French economy and our social model," Patricia Barbizet commented in a press release. "The scale of their contribution to public finances testifies to their essential role in the French model," she insisted.

The theme of tax justice and increased taxes on the richest, notably via a "Zucman tax" of 2% on the wealth of the 1.800 wealthiest people - including many entrepreneurs - is at the heart of the budget debate currently being prepared.

Organizations representing many large and medium-sized companies, such as Medef and Meti, have already spoken out virulently against such a project, highlighting the risk of tax exile for the richest.