France/ General mobilization for the employment of people aged 50 and over: Île-de-France takes action
On July 7, 2025, the Prefecture of the Île-de-France region, Prefecture of Paris, hosted a regional symposium dedicated to the employment of people over the age of 50, bringing together all the public, economic and social players involved in advancing the position of seniors in the job market. Organized in partnership with the Association Nationale des DRH (ANDRH), France Travail, the Association pour l'Emploi des Cadres (APEC) and employers' organizations, and moderated by journalist Nicolas Pagniez, this event was part of the National Initiative for the Employment of the Over-50s, promoted by the Minister of Labor and Employment, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet.
A priority issue for the economy and society
Today, people over 50 account for almost a third of the working population. Their experience, reliability and ability to pass on knowledge make them a major asset for companies. However, their access to employment, training or professional retraining remains more difficult, particularly for women. As a result, France lags far behind its European neighbors in terms of the activity rate of 60-64 year-olds.
In response to this situation, on April 29, 2025, the French government launched a nationwide campaign with three objectives: to change practices, to change the law, and to change attitudes. Since then, over 150 companies have signed the 50+ Charter, an awareness-raising campaign has been rolled out, and a bill is in preparation to better protect the rights of experienced workers.
Three key moments for reflection and action
The Paris region symposium provided an opportunity to structure discussions around three thematic round tables:
- The stakes of a new policy to promote employment among the 50+, in the presence of the French Minister of Labour and Employment, underlining the ambition to build a coherent, sustainable national strategy.
- The event, entitled "Recruter après 50 ans, c'est possible!" (Recruiting after 50, it's possible!), highlighted feedback from companies that have adopted inclusive recruitment practices.
- Career development solutions, highlighting support and retraining schemes, such as the "Atout Senior" program, which combines training leading to a certificate and immersion in the workplace, with over 400 courses already underway in the Paris Region.
Île-de-France on the front line
With almost a quarter of all jobs in France, and an employment rate of 77.5% among 50-64 year-olds, the Paris Region is a driving force. However, the gap with the 25-49 age group remains wide, in terms of access to training, return to employment and retraining.
Regional mobilization does not stop with this symposium: regional meetings will be organized in each département of the Paris region between now and the end of 2025, to continue the momentum on the ground and bring about concrete actions adapted to local realities.
Towards a more inclusive society
This project is an extension of the Full Employment Act, which aims to strengthen cooperation between public employment services, professional sectors and training providers. It also draws on tools developed by the French agency for the improvement of working conditions (Agence nationale pour l'amélioration des conditions de travail - Anact) to promote a global approach to ageing well in the workplace, including health, management, working conditions and skills transfer.
At a time of labor shortage, with 480,000 job vacancies in the last quarter of 2024 according to the DARES (Direction de l'animation de la recherche, des études et des statistiques), experienced workers represent a strategic resource. But mobilizing them requires overcoming persistent obstacles: reduced access to training from the age of 55, lack of support for retraining, and age discrimination, which is still all too prevalent in the world of work.
This regional symposium marks a key stage in the collective mobilization to make the employment of people aged 50 and over a shared priority. Changing outlooks, changing practices and changing rules: this is the objective set by the Île-de-France region, in close collaboration with the State, businesses, local authorities and all local players.
At the end of the seminar, Marie Gautier-Melleray, Prefect General Secretary for Public Policies (SGAPP), thanked all those present for their collective commitment.
Click here to download the press kit:
PDF - 2 568,62 koSource: www.prefectures-regions.gouv.fr/
