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Why 2020 is set to be a good year for job-hunters in France

This year is set to be a good one for job hunters in France, with a predicted 3.7 million jobs on offer in the first six months of 2020.

Why 2020 is set to be a good year for job-hunters in France
The new Station F startup space in Paris. Photo: AFP

Unemployment in France has been steadily falling over the past year and is now at a 10-year low.

France has historically been one of the worst performers in Europe on employment, with stubbornly high jobless rates, particularly among the young.

However 2019 saw a steady fall to reach a 10-year low of 8.5 percent. President Emmanuel Macron's target of reaching seven percent by the end of 2020 is therefore looking possible, and many French firms say their order books are full and they are looking to recruit extra staff in 2020.

READ ALSO How to write the perfect CV for getting a job in France


Airbus is planning a new production line at its factory in Toulouse. Photo: AFP

The major worry for French employers, particularly small business owners, for the year ahead is finding people with the skills that they need, and many firms have already reported being unable to fill vacancies.

The digital and technology sectors are expected to recruit heavily in 2020, as well as the engineering sector, service roles and leisure and tourism.

Although tourism businesses – particularly in Paris – took a hit in December from the weeks of mass transportation strikes, many companies still have plans to recruit this year.

Disneyland Paris has announced that it will be creating 8,000 new jobs – 1,000 on permanent contracts and 7,000 short-term – as it begins work on a major expansion while other big tourist sites including the Puy du Fou theme park and the Beauval zoo are recruiting several hundred new staff.

French newspaper Le Parisien has partnered with the Pôle emploi unemployment office and local chambers of commerce, unions, local authorities and companies, as well as the recruitment agency Adecco to create a detailed regional breakdown of the jobs that will be on offer in France in 2020.

From engineering jobs in Toulouse to work with tech firms in Paris or tourist industry jobs in the French Alps, here's who is hiring.

What jobs are on offer in south west France?

What jobs are on offer in Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes regions?

What jobs are on offer in Paris and the surrounding area?

 

 

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WORKING IN FRANCE

How to get a summer job in France

As the summer holidays approach in France, many employers are looking for seasonal workers - so if you're looking for a summer job, here's how to go about it.

How to get a summer job in France

There are thousands of employment offers in France – a simple internet search for jobs d’été came up with numerous jobs boards offering work in France, while the government-backed Centre d’Information et de Documentation pour la Jeunesse (CIDJ) offers advice and information on all aspects of life for young people in France, including finding seasonal work and summer placements.

Sectors including agriculture, hospitality and tourism are always recruiting in the summer, seeking fruit-pickers, holiday camp workers and serving/hotel staff.

But what are the rules for people seeking summer jobs?

READ ALSO Vendange: What you really sign up for when you agree to help with the French wine harvest

Age

Children from the age of 16 (under certain circumstances, the age limit drops to 14) who are legally resident in France can work as long as they have written authorisation from their parents or legal guardians. A model authorisation letter is available here

Those under the age of 18 cannot undertake certain jobs for health and safety reasons.

In the following circumstances, children as young as 14 or 15 can work during school holidays.

  • The holidays must last at least 14 days;
  • The child must work no more than half the days of the holiday – so, if a vacation period is two weeks, they can work for no more than one of those weeks;
  • The child is given ‘light duties’ that offer no risk to their safety, health, or development;
  • From the age of 15 and if the child has completed their troisieme education, a minor can register for an apprenticeship. 

Salary

Salary is usually paid monthly and will have a payslip. For those aged 18 and over, pay will be at least equal to the minimum wage.

 For those aged 14 to 17, who have less than six months’ professional experience, the minimum allowed rate is 80 percent of the minimum wage. For those aged 17 to 18, the rate rises to a minimum of 90 percent of France’s minimum wage.

  • The minimum wage in France is currently €10.85 gross per hour (€1,645.58 gross per month based on a 35-hour week);
  • the employment contract is fixed-term and can take different forms (fixed-term contract, seasonal employment contract, temporary employment contract, etc);
  • Seasonal employees are subject to the same obligations as the other employees of the company and have access to the same benefits (canteens, breaks, etc.).

Under 18s have certain additional protections:

  • between the ages of 14 and 16, during school holidays, employees on any contract cannot work more than 35 hours per week nor more than 7 hours per day;
  • They cannot work at night;
  • Those aged 14 to under 16 working during their school holidays can only be assigned to work which is not likely to harm their safety, their health or development.

Right to work in France

If you’re a French citizen or hold permanent residency in France then you have the right to work, but for foreigners there are extra restrictions.

Anyone who holds the passport of a EU/EEA country or Switzerland, is free to work in France or to travel to France seeking work without needing a visa or work permit.

Most other people will need permission to work in France – even if it’s only for a short period or for casual work such as grape-picking. Depending on your country of origin you may need a visa – everything you need to know about that is here.

In addition to the visa, you may also need a work permit, which is the responsibility of the employer.  To employ anyone in France for less than 90 days, an employer must get a temporary work permit – before the prospective employee applies for a short stay visa. This permit is then sent to the embassy at which the employee is applying for a visa.

If you come from countries including the UK, USA and Canada you can spend up to 90 days in France without a visa – but you may still need a work (convention d’accueil) if you want to work while you are here.

READ ALSO Six official websites to know if you’re planning to work in France

Certain countries have specific ‘seasonal worker’ visas on offer, for certain sectors which allows – for example – Canadians to come to France and work the ski season. 

Cash-in-hand jobs

Certain sectors which have a lot of casual workers – for example seasonal fruit-picking – do have cash-in-hand jobs, known in France as marché noir (black market) or simply travail au black (working on the black, or working illegally). 

This is of course illegal and working this way carries risks – as well as the possibility of losing your job if labour inspectors turn up you are also in a vulnerable position. If your employer suddenly decides not to pay you, or make unexpected deductions from your wages, there is very little you can do about it since you won’t have any kind of work contract. 

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