Recruitment in France: difficulties and local initiatives

In early November 2026, recruiters face the expectations of Generation Z, against a backdrop where school and university blockades complicate the situation. On November 4, a thirty-something seeking an apprenticeship or job in accounting gave up after six months of applications and more than 1,093 submissions. On the same days, recruitment forums and promotional events were organized in agribusiness in Laon, Troyes, and Saône-et-Loire, as well as in industry in the Hautes-Pyrénées, Lillebonne, Château-Thierry, and Davézieux. A YouGov study for Indeed indicates that a bad hire can cost up to one year's salary, and a business owner denounces competition from France Travail in hiring. From November 10, the reduction of hiring subsidies makes it harder to secure an apprenticeship contract, while industrial and agribusiness sectors remain in search of talent.