a commitment that can also serve as a gateway to employment

Civic service is a commitment, but it is also an integration tool for young people furthest from employment. 50,000 young people will be able to commit to the different dimensions of the ecological transition with associations, communities or public operators by 2027.

By the end of the year, the civic service intended for 16-25 year olds will be enriched with a new mission, ecology. The objective is that 50,000 young people will be able to get involved, by 2027, on this new theme, with a job offer as a result.

franceinfo: What does civic service consist of?

Sarah Lemoine: Civic service has existed since 2010. It is a mission of general interest, open to 16-25 year olds, and up to 30 year olds with disabilities. No need to have a diploma or any experience. The idea is to give between six months and a year of your life to society, to contribute to grassroots actions, in health, sport, culture, education for all, etc… And soon , therefore, ecology.

Civic service is carried out in public companies, local authorities, associations, but not in private companies. It pays 619 euros net per month. This is compensation, not salary. But unlike the RSA, this gives quarters for retirement.

Is civic service a professional integration mechanism?

Initially, no, since the objective is to create a space to develop citizen engagement. “But ultimately, it has become a real springboard for integration, particularly for young people with less qualifications or without qualifications, says Marie Trellu-Kane, president of Unis-Cité, the pioneering civic service association in France, between 16 or 25 years old, when you don’t know what you’re going to do, it’s an opportunity to discover a world, professions, maybe a vocation.”.

According to a study by Céreq, the center for studies and research on qualifications, nearly 7 out of 10 young people are in a favorable situation, one year after the end of their civic service, 49% have a job, 20% are in training or have resumed studies. On a CV, it looks great. 91% of recruiters have a positive image of it.

The future ecological civic service goes a step further, since the idea is to directly associate job offers?

The government wants each young volunteer to be offered a job, a work-study program or an internship, before the end of their ecological mission, if they wish. This could go through a dedicated platform. The project is currently being considered with Medef. A way of killing two birds with one stone when 150,000 jobs should be created in the ecological transition by the end of the decade.