“I have colleagues who have been looking for two years”

In the middle of August, Éric Pinçon does not have many customers in his pharmacy in Changé-lès-Laval, in Mayenne, so he only needs a preparer. But from the start of the school year, he will actively start looking for an assistant. “Personally, I’ve been looking for a pharmacist since the beginning of the year, I’ve put ads everywherehe explains. I have seen one person so far who has found an employer.” Because future pharmacists or assistants are more careful about working conditions.

“A lot of criteria come into play now, including the schedules. I close at 8 p.m., so it’s already a bit prohibitive. They try not to finish too late and not to work on Saturdays.”

Éric Pinçon, pharmacist

at franceinfo

And he is not the only one to lack staff in Mayenne. The 85 pharmacies in the department offer around fifty positions. Éric Pinçon, who is also co-president of the pharmacists’ union in the department, did a small survey of his colleagues. “I sent a WhatsApp message to see. Of the 22 who answered me, we have twelve job applications for pharmacists and eight for preparershe lists. I have colleagues who have been looking for one or two years: they put up posters on their pharmacies, ads on the Internet or in lecture halls, but they can’t find anyone.”

The shortage is widespread throughout France: 15,000 positions for assistants and pharmacists are to be filled, but this profession is struggling to attract young people. Two years of study for a pharmacy assistant, six for a pharmacist. For Laura, who works as a preparer in Éric Pinçon’s pharmacy, the problem arises above all in the low wages and flexible hours.

“The schedules are quite wide anyway: we can finish at 7:15 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. We work 35 hours, but the schedules are just a little different.

Laura, pharmacy assistant

at franceinfo

“It’s true that you have to work on Saturdays, but like in many customer-related jobsshe adds. The hours are just a little longer, but like in many businesses.” On the other hand, she admits, the salaries are a little low: “This is more the case for preparers than for pharmacists. The salary is equivalent to a minimum wage, but not much more.”

To compensate for inflation, Éric Pinçon has increased its employees by 6%. He now hopes that the next Social Security budget will allow him to increase the prices of his pharmacy to balance his accounts.