36 human resources in research and development

In 2013, over half a million people were involved in research activity in France. Women represented 30% of all research personnel and 26% of researchers. The number of researchers, 266,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2013, has increased by 17% in five years. The number of researchers increased more rapidly in business enterprises (26%) than in government (5%) over the period 2008-2013.

In 2013, 575,300 people in France were involved in research-related activity. They represented 418,100 full-time equivalents (FTE), an increase of 9.3% in 5 years (table 36.01). The number of researchers increased by 16.9% in 5 years, from 227,700 FTE in 2008 to 266,200 FTE in 2013. The number of ancillary staff fell, however (-2.0% over 5 years). Researchers accounted for 64% of research staff in 2013, and the 'ancillary staff to researcher' ratio stood at 0.57 in 2013 compared to 0.68 in 2008.

In 2013, business enterprises employed 161,900 FTE researchers. These numbers had increased 26.1% since 2008. In the government sector, researcher numbers had grown less rapidly (+5.1% in 5 years) and stood at 104,300 FTE.

Since 2002, researchers in business enterprises have outnumbered those in government and in 2013 they represented 61% of all researchers.

Almost half of all research personnel in business enterprises (48%) are concentrated in five of the 32 branches of research (chart 36.02): 'Computer-related and information service activities' (12%), 'Manufacture of motor vehicles' (11%), 'Specialised scientific and technical activities' (10%), 'Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery' (10%), 'Manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, testing and navigation; watches and clocks' (7%) (chart 36.02). Between 2008 and 2013, the number of researchers in the service branches increased 7 times more (+77%) than those working in industrial branches (+11%) and the "primary, energy and construction" branches (+15%).

The proportion of women working in research was 30% in 2013. 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 a greater proportion of permanent staff among ancillary staff (88%) than among researchers (71%), as some researchers are doctoral students (chart 36.03).

In not-for-profit institutions, only 63% of research staff and 42% of researchers hold permanent posts.

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

At global level, the European Union is ranked first, with 1.7 million FTE researchers, ahead of China (1.4 million) and the United States (1.3 million).

In relation to the active population, France had 9.13 researchers per thousand workers in 2013, behind South Korea and Japan, but ahead of the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom (chart 36.04). Several less populated countries rank among the world leaders, especially Finland, Taiwan and Sweden.

Catherine David