From time to time I have the chance to chat to the waifs and strays that follow our daughters around – a rare chance to get an insight into the views of French youth! Many of them are at the age when the real world is starting to take over from school life…
The problems that French youngsters face when looking for jobs are substantial, and much more difficult than we faced ourselves when we were young, so I have a lot of sympathy with their predicament. The big problem is, of course, the woeful lack of job opportunities for young French people at the moment.
The first option is to work ‘on the black’. As far as I can tell, most young people don’t want to do this (in part because they like to think they are making a start on their 40 years of required pension contributions). But given the options, they prefer to work on the black rather than not work at all. So this is what many do, and frankly I would do exactly the same if I was in the same position rather than sit at home watching TV all day.
Second option is the CDD, an employment contract for a fixed length of time. These are easier to come by than ‘real’ jobs (although still difficult to find), they are legal, and they sometimes bring valuable work experience, but they don’t bring any job security. Because employing people and getting rid of poor employees is so expensive in France* employers prefer these contracts. Unfortunately when the contract finishes they usually either simply renew it for a few more months, or else they let that person leave and employ another person on the same contract.
*In the UK a company has to pay about 12% of an employees salary in national insurance charges, in France it is 42%
Third option, finding a regular full-time paid job, is more or less impossible for those that don’t have a particular talent. I’m sure people from the elite grandes-ecoles and suitable backgrounds stroll into great jobs with no trouble, but the people we speak to don’t seem to know anyone who has actually found one of these elusive real jobs.
But the strange thing is, if I suggest that they should relax the hiring and firing rules in France to make it easier to get a job, no-one agrees with me, despite a great deal of evidence that it is better for an economy to have a more casual approach to hiring and firing.
It might take 5 or 10 years to find a job in France, but the one hope everyone has is that once they have found a real job they can keep it for ever. Contracts and unions will make it impossible to lose the job, almost regardless of what happens. Who wants to spend years looking for a job only to have to start the same process again a couple of years later?
They are mystified how people in other countries, such as the UK, can cope with the constant threat of redundancy or being sacked for poor performance. Suggestions that a company will generally keep and reward employees who work hard, and only get rid of the staff who are making no effort, are implausible they tell me – who wants their job to be on the line because they happen to disagree with the boss…
The one thing I have learned in France: almost everyone wants change, and recognises the need for change, but for other people, not themselves. So those that do have jobs will fight vigorously against any changes that reduce their rights.
So the big question is – where does that leave French youth – and perhaps our own children in a couple of years? Because at the moment things are looking pretty bleak!
To make matters worse for young people the retirement age is being increased and no compusary retirement age. So with older people staying on at work less jobs for the young. Its become a strang old world. We have far too many levels of politicians and civil servants, and they are creaming off the top leaving less for others. I think parents must instill a work ethic in their children to find ANY job rather than nothing.
Boris,
One of the few times pessimism had crept into one of your posts and unfortunately, you have reason.
We are seeing the same problem with most ‘ working ‘age groups here in Central France.
We will Ignore the kids who turn up to interviews believing they are street wise rappers, and the more ‘mature’ people who do the same after a ‘traditional’ French lunch.
Me and my inherited circle here would not let our socialist principles deny workers’ rights but making it punitive for an employer ( and the smaller the employer, the more they are hurt) to be rid of a disruptive or inept employee is not going to get things going again…
On that cheerful note, happy 2011!
Normal optimism will return as soon as possible…!
Ref previous on education. This is the truth about what has been happening in England. I have no problem about subjects for non academic students ( like me). But reality should not be hidden.I thought you may find this interesting.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/8255960/Michael-Gove-exposes-the-sham-of-rising-GCSE-results.html
I run a small successful business in France. When i approached an accountant to assist in setting up, the first question he asked was, “do you need to employ personnel, if so just forget about starting”. This was a great surprise to me as i was looking forward to fast expansion if things went well.
Five years on and things have gone very well, and the business has now reached a level where we need to employ to expand. The costs and obligations involved in employing someone are so prohibitive that we will not take that route.It is such a shame as we have huge demand for our services but the costs to employ someone would eat too much into the profit.It is no wonder that customer service is so poor in France as management will just not employ staff to provide the services, and those already employed are so difficult to fire when they perform badly. I could go on for hours quoting the ridiculous, uninviting, old fashioned system, but in a nutshell “IT STINKS”
Simmy, would you consider employing someone ‘on the black’ or would that be no help to your business?
We have considered it and we have been very tempted, but the nature of our business involves driving and the risks involved in an accident while working are too high. The facts are that we need to expand but the costs are such that it is just not cost effective. Ironically we pay an “apprentice tax”, when we received the charge we told the accountant that we do not have an apprentice, he said that was why we have to pay it. The alternative was take on an apprentice, who works 3 weeks a month (one week at college) and pay enven more costs. The reality is, as we see it, the french system do everything to discourage employment of staff. We speak with many business people and they all say the same “DO NOT EMPLOY” as this will be your biggest cost and headache.
Simmy, can’t you sell a franchise of your company for a percentage, with the proviso that the franchisee covers the side of the Market that you wish to expand into?
Just a thought.
The best might be to convince young people to become auto-entreprenneurs. This means they can offer services to more than one client and still get legal wages. It is one of the few solutions.
Agreed with all views here. As we are moving to Vannes soon my wife got a ‘rupture conventionelle’…which gives her 75% of wages for 2 years…have you ever heard of anything as outrageous!?
Hi,
Companies are hiring in IT field. They want especially young people. In my company we have hired quite some fresh grad. When I freshed out of my master degree, I got a CDI with the same company I had my internship, and most of my classmates got job right away.
Bee Ean