2025: Cautious optimism

 

Mindset of business leaders:

– 41% say they are uncertain about 2025 (+6 points compared to 2024).

– 51% are neutral, confident, or optimistic.

– Only 8% of business leaders are pessimistic.

 

Overall forecasts:

– Indicators for activity, profitability, investment, and workforce show *record stability (63%)*.

– In France, forecasts are slightly down for:

– Activity: -4%

– Profitability: -4%

– Investment: -5%

– Abroad, forecasts are up significantly:

– Activity: +1.2 points

– Profitability: +1 point

– Overall forecasts: +17%.

 

Risks and challenges:

– 74% of executives consider geopolitical risk to be a priority (topping the list for the first time).

– 68% identify economic risks as major.

– Climate risk is relegated to second-to-last place (13%).

 

International development:

– 34% of executives plan to expand into a new country.

– Priority areas: Asia-Pacific and Europe.

– 50% consider the United States to be a key country in terms of competitiveness.

Competitiveness and economic sovereignty:

– 61% believe that economic sovereignty is a priority for 2025.

– 82% consider French and European measures to support competitiveness to be insufficient.

– Main factors affecting competitiveness:

– Economic context (80%).

– Legal certainty and administrative simplification (44%).

– Access to carbon-free energy is a marginal lever (2%).

 

In summary:

French business leaders are approaching 2025 with a mixture of caution and resilience. Although they are concerned about geopolitical and economic risks, their confidence in international prospects is growing strongly.