{"id":4922,"date":"2023-04-07T00:15:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T17:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eurogroupconsulting.com\/?p=4922"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:54:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:54:03","slug":"the-attractiveness-of-civil-service-professions-what-are-the-facts-and-what-are-the-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eurogroupconsulting.com\/en\/etude\/attractivite-des-metiers-de-la-fonction-publique-quels-constats-et-quels-enjeux","title":{"rendered":"Attractiveness of civil service professions: what are the facts and what are the challenges?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The subject of attractiveness is now a central concern for the entire civil service, and all the more so for its HR function.<\/p>

The recruitment difficulties that threaten the availability and accessibility of services of general interest, at the heart of citizens' lives, make them major issues for public administrations.
While the subject goes beyond the public sphere, it does reveal trends and strong expectations of the State and local authorities in terms of employment, working conditions and remuneration, careers, etc.<\/p>

The necessary transformations must now integrate all projects relating to the modernization of the public HR function.
Several levers can be mobilized to address this issue. They need to be deployed within the framework of a well-defined HR strategy, so that the various aspects can then be rolled out.<\/p>

It is to tackle this major challenge that the government has announced the launch of the careers and remuneration project for the 1st half of 2023, for which the 1st exploratory work has begun.<\/p>

The time of great transitions that characterizes the current period is an incredible laboratory and an opportunity to revitalize the attractiveness of the public service that our country needs.<\/p>

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Between 1997 and 2018, the civil service saw a (historic?) drop of 65% in the number of candidates taking competitive examinations. Is the sector's attractiveness at half-mast?<\/strong><\/p>

While the civil service accounts for one in five jobs in France, only\u00a01 in 10 young people today say they are interested in a job in this sector<\/a>. The number of candidates for state civil service entrance examinations has fallen\u00a0from 650,000 in 1997 to 228,000 in 2018<\/a>\u00a0seems to mark a kind of disaffection with the public sector in terms of career and employment. In 2019, nearly\u00a040% of candidates admitted to the competition who did not take the written test<\/a>. This trend affects all three levels of the civil service. Are we facing a vocational crisis or a crisis in the attractiveness of the civil service, as some call this phenomenon?<\/p>

While this downward trend began before the health crisis, the latter seems to have exacerbated its effects during the economic recovery phase. This \"decline\" in attractiveness has very tangible, day-to-day impacts for all those who benefit from public services. They are illustrated by the difficulty of recruiting in many sectors and professions, threatening the continuity and accessibility of public services for users throughout the country.<\/p>

In response to this emergency and shortage situation - which nevertheless affects the various professions in the three civil service branches in different ways - national and European political initiatives have been launched, particularly with regard to local authorities. In this context, for example, a 2-year project financed by the European Union has been launched on the attractiveness of the French civil service in the regions.<\/p>

The modernization of the HR function can no longer be conceived without a reflection and measures around the issue of attractiveness.<\/p>

What are the realities of this loss of attractiveness from one side to the other, and from one sector of activity to the next?<\/p>

What levers can be envisaged to respond?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

AN UNEVEN LOSS OF ATTRACTIVENESS FROM ONE BUSINESS SECTOR TO ANOTHER<\/h2>

A study published in April 2022 by P\u00f4le emploi highlights serious recruitment difficulties throughout the civil service. This is particularly true in the educational, social, medico-social, cultural, sports, technical and administrative sectors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Top 4 jobs with the highest unemployment<\/h4>
  1. 1.<\/span> The trainers<\/li>
  2. 2.<\/span> Orderlies<\/li>
  3. 3.<\/span> Sports instructors<\/li>
  4. 4.<\/span> Professionals in socio-cultural activities<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    of local authorities are struggling to recruit<\/div>\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t%<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


    According to the results of the 12th Local Authority HR Barometer conducted by Randstad and published in September 2021.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Recruitment issues that raise questions<\/h4>

    Recruitment issues that extend to schools, hospitals, and police and judicial institutions call into question the State's ability to :<\/p>