France construction sector employs 2 million people in 2025

A report by Urssaf reveals that the construction and public works sector (BTP) in France employed nearly 2 million people in 2025. This workforce consists of 1.6 million employees, representing 7.9% of the private sector, and 419,000 independent workers, including 208,000 auto-entrepreneurs.

The second-fix sector (second œuvre) is the largest sub-sector, employing 939,000 employees and 322,000 independent workers in trades such as electricity, plumbing, and carpentry. The heavy construction sector (gros œuvre) includes 351,000 employees and 74,000 independents, while public works (travaux publics) accounts for 286,000 employees and 21,000 independents.

The industry is characterized by a high concentration of small businesses, with 90% of companies employing fewer than 10 people. It also remains heavily male-dominated, with men making up 86% of the workforce compared to 55% in the broader private sector.

Wage disparities are significant within the sector. The average gross salary is €2,530, which is lower than the private sector average of €3,060. Pay varies widely by role, ranging from an average of €1,700 for unskilled workers to €4,500 for engineers and €5,400 for executives and sales staff.