CORSE - Employment
Female employment now catching up
Urban population growth goes hand in hand with the increase in the working population, which since 1975 has seen a rise in female activity. Nevertheless, with a female activity rate of 39%, Corsica is still far behind the national rate (49%). In an insular society, which for many years clung to the idea that a woman's place was in the home, a female labour force is a fairly recent phenomenon. Women have benefited considerably from changing attitudes, backed by the expansion of the services sector, which provides the bulk of jobs for women on the island.
Steady rise in employment, especially in the services sector
Between 1996 and 2001 employment in Corsica grew by an average of 1.9% per year, placing Corsica with the third highest growth rate (with Alsace) of the metropolitan regions. The number of jobs has increased partly because of the growth of the services sector, both public and private, where jobs are still being created, and partly because tourism has boosted the island's economy.
The annual average growth rate of employees in the region was 2.4%, above the national average and the number of self-employed only declined by 0.4%. Although the share of self-employed has fallen from 15.8% in 1996 to 14.1% in 2001, Corsica still has the highest percentage of self-employed in metropolitan France, and is well above the national average of 9.0%. This is due to the importance of craft businesses.
Services account for 80% of all jobs
In 1990, more than 70% of jobs were in the services sector. In 2001 services accounted for 80% of all employment in the region, the highest proportion for any region of metropolitan France after Ile-de-France. From 1996 to 2001 employment in the tertiary sector continued to grow, with an annual average growth rate of 2.6%, roughly the same as at national level.
The sectors administration and local government, education, health and social services, wholesale and retail trade, and personal services make up the largest part of employment.
Corsica has the highest proportion of jobs in administration of all the regions of metropolitan France. In 2001 administration provided 26.3% of jobs in the service sector of the region, compared to the national average of 16.9%.
The sectors distributive trade, personal services, catering services seem oversized compared to the number of inhabitants. This is the effect induced by tourism, which is also related to the transport sector. During the tourism season, which is tending to lengthen, the number of workers in these sectors grows.
Jobs in the financial sector and in services to enterprises are few. Corsica has the lowest share in metropolitan France of jobs in these sectors: 2.5% in the financial sector compared to the national average of 4.1% and 10.1% in business services compared to the national average of 18.5%.
Agriculture remains an important activity especially in the Eastern plain, even if the agricultural sector offers less and less jobs (4.8% of jobs in 2001). Employment in agriculture declined by an annual average rate of 2.7% from 1996 to 2001.
At regional level industrial employment only accounted for 6.4% of total employment in 2001; the lowest share in France, and far below the national average of 17.5%. Over the period 1996 to 2001 employment in industry remained stable (+0.2% per year), whereas as at national level it was negative. Most jobs are in the production of intermediate goods and capital goods, representing respectively 42% and 38% of all employees working in the industrial sector (excluding the agri-food industry and energy) of the island.
Construction accounts for a much larger proportion of jobs than in the rest of France, representing 8.7% of employment in 2001. This is the highest share for any region of France. Between 1996 and 2001 employment in construction grew at an annual average rate of 0.8%, which was slightly higher than the national average.
Unemployment remains a problem
Although employment is growing, jobs are still insufficient to absorb the surplus work force and the unemployment rate is higher than the national average.
In June 2002 the unemployment rate was 10.4%, compared to 15.8% in June 1996, whereas for metropolitan France as a whole the unemployment rate was 9.0% in June 2002, compared to 12.1% in June 1996.
Unemployment varies according to the population groups involved. At the end of 2001 job seekers aged between 15 and 24 years accounted for 18.6% of all job seekers in Corsica. This is below the national average. Women represented 51.2% of all job seekers, which is 1 percentage point above the national average. Long-term unemployment in Corsica is less than the national average, with 23% of job seekers registered for more than one year compared to 31.7% on the national scale. For the youngest age group (15 and 24 year olds), the proportion seeking work for over a year is the lowest in France: 8.0% compared to national average of 15.4%.
Low wages in the private and semi-public sectors
Wages and salaries in Corsica were some 14% lower than in France as a whole in 1999. Average wages in Corsica were the second lowest of all the regions of France in the private and semi-public sectors with only 15 773 Euro net wages and salaries per year compared to the national average of 17 930 Euro. Most of this difference is due to the island's economic structure: small businesses, the predominance of less well-paid sectors (construction, distribution, etc.), the high proportion of seasonal jobs, unskilled jobs and the low level of urbanisation.
The disparity between men and women?s wages and salaries was not so large as can be seen in other regions. Men?s salaries were the lowest of all the regions of metropolitan France. Heads and managers of businesses are the least well paid in France.
Low gross disposable income
In 1997 Corsican households had the second lowest gross disposable income per capita of all the regions of metropolitan France with 11 760 Euro, this is 14% below the metropolitan average and 5% below the average for the provinces. This is mainly because individual wages and salaries are low but also because the household frequently only has one wage or salary coming in (low level of female employment).
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