recruitment difficulties for small and medium-sized businesses, perverse effect of the fall in unemployment

SMEs on the front line of recruitment difficulties. The Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME) has just done its accounts: nearly one in two SMEs needs to recruit in France. But, among these small and medium-sized companies that are hiring, 87% are struggling to find the right candidate. A considerable proportion.

Fewer candidates

More than a third of them (37%) have not received any applications for their offers and 32% have had one or more offers unfilled for more than a year. “This phenomenon has a severe impact on the turnover of SMEs and 64% of the companies questioned are forced to give up contracts or reduce their activity”explains the CPME.

If nearly half of managers complain of receiving profiles that are unsuitable for open positions, almost as many (44%) explain that candidates refuse the constraints linked to the position. They are also 38% to claim wages that the bosses consider too high. They also have difficulty finding accommodation near their company: this is the case for one candidate in ten.

Salary increase and bonus

According to the CPME, two-thirds of business leaders with at least one employee have agreed to a salary increase. 43% plan to use the value-sharing bonus, which remains an option for businesses. On the other hand, nearly 80% of them say they are opposed to the introduction of the four-day week.

To overcome these recruitment difficulties, the CPME is calling for incentives for hiring older employees and 19% consider that the shift in the retirement age will force them to recruit older employees.