In 2000, 19% of paid hours were paid in the private sector to employees occupying a short-term position, i.e. a job lasting for less than a year. Young, unqualified or part-time employees tend to occupy this kind of job. Besides the temporary employment sector, service sectors also use this method of labour management, and more frequently than industry. In sectors and structures by age, sex, qualification and identical employment types, there is a greater proportion of short-term positions in companies with fewer than 50 employees. Between 1994 and 2000, levels of short-term employment varied little; a decrease observed in almost all sectors was offset by a marked increase of temporary employment.