Despite a demonstrated political will, reindustrialization is struggling to materialize in France. If the years 2022 and 2023 were encouraging, with a greater number of factory openings than closures, the dynamic was finally reversed last year in France.
In the long term, the phenomenon of deindustrialization is undeniable, since the weight of the secondary sector in GDP has fallen from around 20% in the 1980s to 10% today. Paradoxically, young people remain predominantly optimistic. According to a study by L’Usine Nouvelle in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry*, 54% of young people between 18 and 25 years old surveyed say they are confident in the future of French industry.
More than a quarter of those surveyed are also in favor of welcoming industrial companies to France without conditions. 38% still want to establish them, especially in terms of employment and the environment, and 25% want to reject factories that have a harmful impact on the environment. A majority also approves of state support for the sector (40% want more aid and 22% recommend maintaining current aid).
Amazon, the company that best embodies the industry for young people
If 60% of young French people have a good opinion of the sector, do they know it well? Asked about the professions they most associate with the sector, 67% of respondents first mention manual professions such as production (production operators, production unit head), followed by logistics professions (66%). 62% also mention the marketing and communication sectors, and the same number mention research and development, as well as software and information systems. Data professions (data scientist), on the other hand, are only cited by a minority (46%).
Regarding the industrial sectors that most attract young people, luxury takes first place (27%), ahead of automobiles (24%), health and pharmaceuticals (21%), energy (15%) and defense (12%). Sectors that are found globally in the ranking of companies that young people most associate with the industry. In addition to Amazon, which occupies first place (8%), we find French companies such as Renault (7%) and Airbus (7%) on the podium. They are followed by EDF (4%), Peugeot (4%), Totalenergies (4%), LVMH (4%) and Tesla (3%).
The head of the American manufacturer Elon Musk also figures at the head of the personalities who most embody the industry for young people (38%), ahead of the CEO of LVMH Bernard Arnault (16%), Emmanuel Macron, who has made reindustrialization one of his priorities (12%), the head of Engie Isabelle Kocher (3%) and the resigned Minister of Industry Marc Ferracci (2%).
The second most attractive sector
If young people generally view the sector favorably, it is above all because of its innovative nature (68%) and its contribution to the French economy (60%). However, many of them believe that the sector must evolve, in particular by reducing resource waste (49%), promoting the circular economy (43%), consuming less energy (36%) or offshoring production (35%). And less than half have a good opinion of the sector’s commitment to gender equality (47%) or the environment (49%).
Despite these shortcomings, industry remains the second most attractive sector for young people (17%), behind commerce (30%), but ahead of the public service (14%) or services (14%). A good position justified by the level of remuneration (42%), job security (34%), opportunities to work internationally (33%) and useful impact on society (27%).
*Survey conducted online from July 15 to 22, 2025 among 1,000 French people between 18 and 25 years old.
Source: BFM TV
