The share of these jobs in the working population fell from nearly 27% in 1968 to about 12% in 2016. The share of manufacturing in gross domestic product, for its part, dropped from about 25% in the 1960s to about 10% today.
The electoral weight of the issue is part of a long industrial decline. France has lost about 2.5 million industrial jobs since the 1970s.
Producing more in France is emerging as a major issue in the presidential campaign. According to an OpinionWay poll published Thursday, November 12, the candidates’ proposals on this subject will be an important voting criterion for a majority of voters aged 18 to 49.
The priority is not the same across age groups, however. Those aged 35 to 49 cite employment first, while those aged 18 to 24 put the environment at the top.
In all, 89% of voters in the age group studied believe that producing more goods in France should be a priority of the next five-year term.
Asked in the same study, voters want this revival to concern food products first, then, in order, medicines, clothing, cars and military equipment.
Marine Le Pen (National Rally) links national production to restoring France’s independence in the face of international crises.
She promises to drastically cut production taxes, establish a French electricity price and offer advantageous energy rates to companies that would relocate their production to France.
A candidate also wants to create a reshoring agency and launch targeted plans, particularly for semiconductors and medicines.
Specific sectors are cited in this debate: textiles, wood, renewable energy and the circular economy.