Michel Lefebvre, director of the Paris pour l’emploi fair: “We expect 20,000 candidates”

Michelle Lefebvre runs a lot and everywhere. It is not that he is preparing a marathon for the entire Paris Olympic Games 2024, but simply that he is completing the final adjustments for the 20th Paris pour l’emploi fair, which will take place from Thursday 23 to Friday 24 November 2023, Place de la Concorde in Paris (8th century). This man has a busy schedule, but he keeps smiling to give us some of his precious time.

The show is celebrating its 20th anniversary… Where did it all start?

MICHELLE LEFEVRE. During the first edition, in 2003, we were in the square of the Hotel de Ville, at the request of Bertrand Delanoë, the then mayor. But the queues were such that the prefecture and, in particular, the subprefect, Father Emmanuel Grégoire (Anna Hidalgo’s first deputy), had to twice order barriers to be erected in order to secure everything.

Next year we went to the Champ de Mars. We stayed there until 2009 before we had to move due to problems with the basement, which had to be strengthened due to the presence of quarries. This is how we arrived at Place de la Concorde in 2010.

The job market has changed significantly since…

A lot has changed in 20 years! Globalization, connecting the whole world to the Internet, global warming – all this has profoundly changed the labor market, and we can say that it is transforming it in real time! In France, it reflects today’s world: more complex, interconnected, but more fragile. We saw this in 2008 when the subprime crisis hit like a tsunami, having a more than 3.5 point impact on the unemployment curve through 2015.

But specifically…

We can talk about the metropolisation of work, when areas of employment are increasingly concentrated around large French cities. We note a decline in industrial positions, expecting a reversal of the curve following the paradigm shift towards autonomy, following Covid and the energy crisis. All this is for the benefit of the tertiary sector, which is still taking place with a reduction in the number of workers, which continues to benefit workers, skilled or not, and managers.

A new generation is also entering the labor market…

It seems that Generation Z quickly gets bored and jumps from one job to another… But there is a dematerialization of work that isolates and at the same time democratizes, making all information accessible. Or the emergence of artificial intelligence, which is seen as a threat to many jobs, but which will provide significant productivity gains if used wisely… New jobs are constantly being created. Everything changes.

Has the profile of job seekers changed?

Over the past 20 years they have experienced a transition from ANPE to Pôle emploi, and soon to France Travail. Each reform has always been aimed at ensuring that the job seeker is active, in particular open to opportunities to validate acquired experience, learning and progress. We tend to think that with each reform the applicant always becomes more constrained, but we can just as easily say that we are more attentive to them, that they are better supported…

What about this year’s exhibition?

This publication will become landmark. There will be thousands of job openings and we are expecting 20,000 applicants. There will also be surprises, including a mini athletics track created for the occasion, lots of sports/work activities at the City of Paris booth, a photographer at the LinkedIn booth, etc.

Are there any professions that are in particular demand?

Accountant at Normale Sup, Research and Industrial Development Engineer at Ariane Group, Salesperson at Volkswagen Group Retail, Medical Staff at Gustave Roussy Hospital (Val-de-Marne), through the Computer or Aircraft Maintenance Specialist at Babcock International or the Humanities and Social Sciences Researcher at CNRS, not forgetting the Computer Maintenance Specialist at Free. All profiles of all skill levels, qualifications and experience are targeted.

Any advice for candidates?

Prepare carefully for your visit: Paris for Jobs is large and crowded. I usually say that you should never go there without knowing what you are looking for. The website oui-emploi.fr, the platform accompanying the exhibition, is already available ahead of the Paris Work Days.

“Paris for Employment” : Thursday 23 and Friday 24 November, 10:00 to 18:00, Place de la Concorde, Paris (8th arrondissement). Free admission. M° 1.8 and 12, Concorde station. Information about oui-emploi.fr.