Chemical industry: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ranks second in France in terms of employment

According to an INSEE analysis published on Tuesday, September 9, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ranks second in France and 13th in Europe for the chemical industry in terms of employment. With 24,400 employees in 2022, it ranks just behind the Île-de-France region, which has 27,900 employees.

In 2022, these 24,400 employees were spread across the 845 establishments dedicated to the region's chemical industry. A chemical industry dominated by large French and foreign companies, which alone account for 46% of jobs, compared to 38% for mid-sized companies, 15% for small and medium-sized enterprises, and 1% for micro-enterprises.

Although present throughout the region, employment in the regional chemical industry is mainly concentrated in the Rhône. Thanks in particular to its "chemical valley," the department stands out as a "main hub," employing 10,600 people, or 43.5% of the regional workforce. Isère ranks second in the region with 3,900 employees. Loire completes the podium with 2,300 employees. Together, these three departments account for nearly 70% of the regional chemical workforce.

"The Rhône, Isère, Loire and Ain departments stand out not only for their high concentration of jobs, but also for their higher salary levels," INSEE points out. Indeed, in the Rhône, the average net monthly salary is 4,290 euros, compared to 2,490 euros in Cantal.

However, the sector appears less attractive to women and young people: 31% of employees are women, while only 3% of the workforce is under 25.

This disparity can be explained in particular by the wage inequality in the sector. Indeed, INSEE results show that women receive salaries 13.7% lower than those of men in the chemical industry.

The low number of young people could be explained by a later entry into the sector, "potentially due to higher qualification levels," explains INSEE.

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