French multinational groups in 2011 - 53% of employees outside France

In 2011, French multinational groups excluding banks controlled 35,400 overseas subsidiaries. These subsidiaries accounted for 53% of their turnover and workforce. The 150 global "major groups" alone employed 82% of employees abroad, with slightly more than four million employees. Hosting 41% of employees posted abroad, the European Union is the first area targeted for setting up, ahead of the United States (11%), China (8%) and Brazil (7%). 42% of staff working abroad are located in industrial affiliates and nearly 20% in commercial affiliates.