[Changes in the French working population in a European context]

Recent trends in the dynamics of the population of working age in France are analyzed and compared to those in other countries in the European Union. "Since the early 1980s, growth in the French working population has been slower and demographic growth higher than in the other European Union countries. This trend can be explained by the sharp downturn in activity in France. The drop in employment among young people and the oldest potential workers is partially due to labour market adjustments specific to France. The French working population is now highly concentrated in the intermediate age brackets. The proportion of women in this population is also growing, with France having one of the highest female participation rates in the European Union." The author concludes that the relatively healthy demographic trends in France should lead to fewer problems in the future development of the labor force in comparison with some other European countries, provided that the problems in finding work for younger workers and those approaching retirement can be solved. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND GER AND SPA)