Why did the end of French nuclear testing lead to job losses in French Polynesia?

The end of French nuclear testing in 1996 led to significant job losses in French Polynesia because the local economy had become heavily dependent on the presence of French military personnel and the associated infrastructure.

For decades, the French government maintained nuclear testing facilities in the Tuamotu archipelago, specifically on the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa. The operation of these sites required extensive logistical support, which created numerous civilian and service-related jobs on Tahiti and Hao Atoll.12

When France declared a moratorium on testing and subsequently dismantled these military and civilian facilities, hundreds of French soldiers and personnel departed the territory. This withdrawal resulted in the direct loss of the many service jobs that had been created to support the military presence. To mitigate the economic impact, the French government pledged to provide aid for several years while encouraging efforts to diversify the economy and stimulate new investment.12