Despite a lower total than expected, “the results are there” in terms of integrating young people far from the world of work, welcomed Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
One year after its launch, what assessment for the youth employment contract? More than 300,000 young people far from employment have joined this system, successor to the youth guarantee, since March 2022, announced Elisabeth Borne, Friday March 3. “The results are in”welcomed the Prime Minister, even if the executive hoped for 400,000 beneficiaries in 2022.
With a duration of six months to one year, the youth employment contract is intended for 16-25 year olds (29 years old for people with disabilities) who are neither in school, nor in employment, nor in training, or who have find it difficult to stay in permanent employment.
“The objective is to allow those who are further away to bounce back, to gain confidence and to be able to access a job.”
Elisabeth Borne, Prime Ministerquoted by AFP
Within the first cohort, 63% of beneficiaries accessed employment for at least one month in the nine months following entry. They are 43% to have won a contract of more than six months.
“When you put in the means, it pays off”
Operated by the local missions or by Pôle emploi, the youth employment contract has the challenge of providing intensive support for 15 to 20 hours of activity per week: training, immersion in the company, job search workshops, etc. Adults can benefit from an allowance of 300 to 500 euros depending on their tax situation. Minors receive 200 euros.
“When you put in the resources and a local mission adviser only follows 40 young people instead of 100, it pays off”greeted Antoine Dulin, president of the integration commission at the Youth Policy Orientation Council, recognizing “a quantitative and qualitative success”.
But he issued several caveats: “What future for the 57% who do not have a lasting job at the end of their CEJ ?” Other reserve, “75% of CEJ beneficiaries were already known to the public employment service”. The youth engagement contract is struggling to reach “the invisible ones”the most vulnerable, in particular victims of addictions or coming out of child welfare.