Number of state-controlled companies continued to grow in 2017

At the end of 2017, 1,751 French companies were state-controlled – 89 directly – employing 767,000 people, or 3.1% of the total payroll employment in France. The number of companies in which central government holds a majority stake increased by 43 since 2016. However, the number of employees in state-controlled companies continued to fall. The tertiary sector remains the largest, accounting for two thirds of state-controlled companies and three quarters of employment. 2017 was also notable for the restructuring of the French nuclear industry.