Oliver Rowland continued his dominant form in the first of two back-to-back Monaco e-Prixs, which for the first time, included the new Pit Boost rule, shaking up an exciting race on the streets of Monte-Carlo.

Earlier in the day, Taylor Barnard, who became the youngest ever Formula E driver when he replaced an injured Sam Bird at last season’s Monaco e-Prix, became the youngest driver to put his car on pole after Rowland put his car in the wall in the qualifying final.

The Championship leader would atone for his error later in the day but his victory was anything but simple. The introduction of the ‘Pit Boost’ rule, already applied during the Miami e-Prix, means that drivers must pit in order to have their battery charged. As it does in the Formula 1 race, strategy therefore played its part.

*Rowland going around the Fairmont Hairpin – Photo credit Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life*

Andretti’s Nico Mueller was the major benefactor on this occasion. After a largely clean start, Rowland retained his lead in the opening laps, however, Mueller, who qualified 14th before suffering a puncture early in the race, stopped under a Full Course Yellow on lap 14, leapfrogging the competition and putting him in the lead of the race.

However, the Swiss driver was not able to retain his advantage. Lacking pace, he was eaten up by the grid, ultimately finishing fifth. Barnard was also sent tumbling down the order. The young Brit had already been overtaken by Rowland prior to the pit boosts, with the latter applying the pressure. Barnard twice cut a chicane to retain his lead, much to the frustration of Rowland, who called for clarity of the rules post-race.

Barnard then sustained damage on lap 24, going into the barrier at the Fairmont hairpin on lap 24. Whilst he kept his McLaren running, he failed to bring home any points for his team.

*Rowland in front of the Monaco skyline in the Monaco e-Prix. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life*

Rowland still had a fight on his hands. To his confusion, he was only informed by his team to take Attack Mode – which provides a temporary speed advantage but at the expense of going wide in Casino Square – late-on, meaning that he had to make his way up from fifth in the final laps.

Maserati MSG struggle at home e-Prix

He got the winning move done coming out of the tunnel on lap 26 of 30 with former Formula 1 driver Nyck de Vries finishing second, ahead of Jake Dennis. The Brit has now won three out of the first six races this season, becoming the first driver to do so since Sébastien Buemi in the 2016/17 season. He now has 94 points, 34 more than second-placed Pascal Wehrlein.

At their home e-Prix, Maserati MSG Racing had a difficult day, taking just two points thanks to Stoffel Vandoorne’s ninth-place finish.

*Maserati MSG’s Stoffel Vandoorne at the Monaco e-Prix. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life*

However, Maserati MSG Racing, like the rest of the grid, will get a second bite of the apple. This year’s Monaco e-Prix is a double-header, meaning that there will be a second race on Sunday. The celebrations, therefore, could not be too extravagant; the podium champagne was more sprayed than consumed.

“If there wasn’t another race, I’d feel quite a lot different and I would have other plans,” joked Rowland. “Your mind immediately switches to tomorrow. It changes the feeling of winning.”

Dennis added, “I think [the celebrations] would be better if there wasn’t a race tomorrow. Ultimately, we have to do the job tomorrow.” A slightly more muted podium, therefore, however, it is a big win for Rowland, who previously finished on the podium in Monaco in 2019.

*Rowland celebrates his Monaco e-Prix win. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle / Monaco Life*

The win on the streets of Monte-Carlo may have lacked its usual effervescent taste but it is one that puts Rowland firmly in the driving seat in the race for the Formula E title.

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Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Monaco’s job market surged in 2024, adding thousands of new roles and reinforcing the Principality’s position as a magnet for private sector growth. The year brought a sharp rise in remote work, a spike in temporary contracts, and a workforce that’s more global—and older—than ever.

The Principality’s latest Observatoire de l’Emploi, released in April, provides a detailed look at the evolving landscape of employment in Monaco. With 78,364 jobs recorded at the end of 2024—up nearly 4,000 from the previous year—the market grew by 4.8%, its strongest pace in a decade. More than 92% of these roles are in the private sector, underlining Monaco’s reputation as a hub for agile, service-driven businesses.

Strong private sector growth led by hospitality and technical services

Monaco crossed a significant threshold in 2024: over 60,000 people are now employed in the private sector. The strongest gains were seen in hospitality and temporary work, with the accommodation and restaurant sector rising 7.6% and technical/admin services increasing by 7.5%. Temporary employment saw a 13.5% jump, almost double the growth of the overall private sector. In fact, interim workers now make up nearly 13% of all private sector employees—reflecting the Principality’s highly seasonal and service-oriented economy.

Telework becomes the norm for thousands

A standout shift in 2024 was the continued rise in telework. By year-end, nearly 6,800 employees were working remotely—up 19% from 2023. For the first time, more women than men were teleworking. The majority of remote workers live in France, but a growing number now reside in Italy, thanks to an expanded agreement that took effect in mid-2024. This evolution offers increased flexibility for Monaco-based companies while supporting cross-border talent retention.

Diversity rises, but gender imbalance remains

Monaco’s private sector is now home to workers from 145 nationalities, reflecting the Principality’s international appeal. French nationals remain the majority, followed by Italians and Portuguese, but the most significant growth came from Romanian workers, whose numbers have multiplied fivefold since 2015. Despite this growing diversity, gender parity is moving in the opposite direction. In 2024, women made up just 37.9% of private sector employees—down from 40.7% a decade ago. The decline is largely due to the male-dominated nature of temporary work and sectors like construction and logistics.

Ageing workforce and commuter shift

The average private sector employee in Monaco is now 42.4 years old—up by more than a year in the past decade. Workers over 55 represent nearly one in five employees. At the same time, the population commuting to Monaco continues to grow. Nice alone accounts for more than 16,000 workers, with the largest increases coming from further afield in the Alpes-Maritimes and Italy. Meanwhile, the share of Monaco-based employees has declined steadily, now representing just over 10%.

Entrepreneurship on the rise, but Monégasques remain a minority

Monaco closed 2024 with more than 6,000 self-employed individuals—a 51% increase over the past decade. The number of private employers has remained steady, though larger entities (with 200+ employees) are slowly increasing. Still, Monégasque nationals remain underrepresented: only about 1,000 work in the private sector, a number that has remained static for 10 years and now represents less than 2% of the total workforce.

As Monaco continues to modernise its economic model, the 2024 employment trends offer valuable insights for employers, investors, and entrepreneurs alike. With flexible work models growing, international talent deepening, and sectoral dynamics shifting, the Principality’s labour market is evolving—and poised for even more transformation ahead.

Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

Day: 3 May 2025