Auvergne Rhône-Alpes. The region’s economy ended the year sluggishly

In the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region as throughout France, economic activity slowed down in the last quarter of 2023, according to an INSEE study published this Thursday.

The number of hours paid by companies increased by barely 0.6% in November and December, compared to the same months of 2022.

The construction sector is still at half mast and industry and the commercial tertiary sector are compensating less and less, with almost zero growth in December.

Employment is struggling

A depression which is felt in employment, almost stable in the fourth quarter (+0.1%).

Over the year, the balance remains positive (18,400 jobs created, or +0.6%) but this is the weakest development since 2015 (excluding 2020, the year of Covid). The increase was three times greater in 2022.

The Rhône is doing (a little) better

The Rhône is a little above average (+0.9%), the Loire, Haute-Loire and Ain below.

Temporary employment also continues to deteriorate, with a fourth consecutive quarter of decline (-5.8% over one year). Only the Rhône (with the Ardèche) escaped the slump (+1.6%).

The industry resists

Employment is weighed down by the real estate crisis, with a decline over the year in both the construction sector and that of real estate activities. The accommodation and catering sector also lost jobs, but only in the last quarter.

Positive point, the industrial sector drives employment growth more than the commercial tertiary sector (+1.1% compared to 0.9%, over the year). Extractive industries and energy, as well as electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing, remained dynamic. Here again, the Rhône is doing better than the others (+2%).

The unemployment rate thus stands at 6.5% in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes in the fourth quarter of 2023, 0.1 point above the previous quarter.