35 human resources in research and development

In 2012, 564,500 people were involved in research activity in France. In the last three years, the number of researchers has increased more rapidly in business enterprises (+16%) than in government (+2%). Women represent 29% of all research personnel and 26% of researchers.

In 2012, 564,500 people in France were involved in research-related activity. They represented 412,000 full-time equivalents (FTE), an increase of 8.7% in 5 years (table 35.01). This change was due to the sharp rise in the number of researchers, which had grown by 16.8% in 5 years, from 221,900 FTE in 2007 to 259,100 FTE in 2012. The number of ancillary staff fell, however (-2.7% over 5 years). Researchers now accounted for 63% of research staff, and the 'ancillary staff to researcher' ratio stood at 0.59 in 2012 against 0.71 in 2007.

In 2012, business enterprises employed 156,600 FTE researchers. These numbers had increased 25.7% since 2007. In the government sector, researcher numbers had grown less rapidly (+5.4% in 5 years) and stood at 102,500 FTE.

Since 2002, researchers in business enterprises have outnumbered those in government and in 2012 they represented 60% of all researchers.

Almost half of all research personnel in business enterprises (48%) are concentrated in five branches of research (economic sectors where R&D is carried out): 'Information technology and computer service activities', 'Automobile Industry', 'Specialised scientific and technical activities', 'Aeronautics and space construction', 'Manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, testing and navigation, watches and clocks' (chart 35.02). Between 2007 and 2012, the number of researchers in the service branches increased 10 times more (+91%) than those working in industrial branches (+9%).

The proportion of women working in research was 29% in 2012. This figure is lower for researchers (26%) than for ancillary staff (35%). It is also lower in business enterprises (22%) than in the government sector (40%).

In government, more than three out of four research personnel have permanent posts. There is greater proportion of permanent staff among ancillary staff (88%) than among researchers (71%), as some researchers are doctoral students (chart 35.03).

In not-for-profit institutions, only 66% of research staff and 44% of researchers hold permanent posts.

Within the European Union, France is in third place for the number of researchers (FTE), behind Germany and the United Kingdom.

In relation to the active population, France had 9.1 researchers per thousand workers in 2012, behind Japan and Portugal, but ahead of the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom (chart 35.04). Several less populated countries rank among the world leaders, especially Finland, Taiwan and Sweden.

Odile Wolber