The territory also benefited from an increase in employment (+28 employees), driven by the public sector, while private-sector employment declined by 20 employees, mainly in the construction sector (17 fewer employees than in 2023).
Imports to the territory increased overall (+0.3% in value and +8.8% in volume), although trends differed between imports linked to household consumption (+3.8% in value) and those related to business investment through capital goods (–0.9% in value). The construction sector, which is highly dependent on public procurement, together with certain factors such as the delayed adoption of the Budget, contributed to the mixed performance of the private sector. At the same time, the retail sector benefited from the slowdown in inflation and the rise in local employment.
The riots that occurred in New Caledonia in 2024 affected the territory, notably through the suspension of air links with Nouméa (220 external flights in 2024 compared with 290 in 2023). This disruption largely contributed to the decline in passenger numbers at Hihifo airport (–11.3% compared with 2023). However, the number of Wallisian passengers increased by 4.3%, reflecting a ‘return to the homeland’ movement.
The banking sector continued to record an excess of deposits over loans, although this gap narrowed in 2024. Financial leeway remains significant and outstanding performing loans granted increased sharply. At the same time, household vulnerability worsened, with a significant rise in the number of individuals subject to banking bans, as well as an increase in cheque payment incidents.