The joint conference between Bernard Kleynhoff, president of the Metropolitan and Territorial CCI (this is the new designation) and UPE 06, the association that brings together entrepreneurs from the Alpes-Maritimes, had a common goal that highlights their complementarity: to assess the health of companies that drive the economy of this region.
Here is the overview of the year that has just ended, and especially the outlook for the one that has just begun.
Bernard Kleynhoff expressed his full confidence in the ability of the “system” (by associating the business world and local public authorities) to face future challenges: “We cannot say that we have emerged from the crisis and that all is well, but the situation is not catastrophic either. There are sectors that have held up well and even progressed, while others have taken a step back.”
Thus, it was Yvon Grosso who addressed the most delicate point of the situation: employment. A situation of apparent contradiction presenting a parallel increase in the number of jobs and job seekers. This is technically explained by the positive balance in the number of companies on one hand and the increase in the resident working-age population (internal immigration and from abroad) on the other.
But let’s allow the numbers to speak before a final comment:
- In a tense national context, companies in the Côte d’Azur have resisted: a turnover increase of +3% (3.5% for export) with a positive employment trend (+0.5%). The trends for 2012 are also strongly positive. The driving force behind this result was the construction sector with a +7%, but 2012 is shaping up to be challenging.
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Order books slow to fill: between a satisfactory and a concerning situation, there is a significantly equal number of businesses, which starts to erode business leaders’ confidence for the future.
Incidentally, Bernard Kleynhoff wanted to remind everyone of the good health of the two consular entities, the Airport and the Ports.
In summary, what we take away from this situation is:
- The economic activity in the Côte d’Azur presents a satisfactory record with slight reinforcement of permanent employment
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Order books are slow to fill, but companies are holding on while waiting for better times
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Employment is overall progressing, but there is also a strong increase in job demand with an aggravating trend for the unemployed over 50
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More specifically, there is a significant increase in activity in the Life Sciences sector, while the Technology and Communication sector is weakening.
Finally, what predictions for the future?
In light of what the two key figures of the local economy have told and presented, we should “be realistic… with optimism.”
