Employability is a matter of public interest" said Patrick Martin, the President of the French business confederation (MEDEF), at the Think Education & Research 2025 event
“Employability is not just a concern for companies facing recruitment challenges. It is a matter of general interest for the proper functioning of our country, our economy, and our social systems”, stated Patrick Martin, President of the MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France), the French employer’s Association that represents the interests of private companies in France, on February 6, 2025, at the closing of Think Education & Research 2025 at Sorbonne University.
"I am dismayed to see that some measures in the 2025 budget go against what needs to be done. The issue of skills, and therefore training, does not carry as much weight as it should in public debate."
Regarding apprenticeship support, he stated: "We are capable of dismantling programs that, albeit belatedly, have shown spectacularly positive results. By allocating resources, including public funding, we have achieved extraordinary collective success.
We must not, in the name of necessary but inappropriate budgetary savings, create threshold effects in terms of workforce size and, even worse, in terms of education level. That is absurd.
We are all aware that we are under budgetary constraints, but apprenticeships are an investment for the nation itself. I do not know of a single public scheme that does not produce windfall effects, this applies to unemployment insurance, health insurance, the R&D tax credit, and more.
We cannot aim for greater qualifications, technological advancement, and creativity while dismantling a training system that fosters opportunities and social mobility. It is disgraceful."
Skills are crucial
"Every day, we are increasingly convinced that the issue of skills is critical. In our hierarchy of priorities, skills even come before taxation, as well as access to energy and raw materials," said Patrick Martin.
"We have entered an increasingly competitive economy. The economic landscape is evolving at an extremely rapid pace. If we fail to constantly reassess ourselves, both in terms of quality and volume, we risk falling behind in history."
Regarding employability, he emphasized that this issue "should no longer be confined to specialists or perceived as a mere commercial concern. It is almost a civilizational issue. This means that we must coordinate, anticipate current and future needs much better, and, beyond diagnostics, pool our resources. It must become a collective mobilization effort."
Bridging the gap between the education world and the job market
On the relationship between schools and the job market, the MEDEF president stated:
"It is up to companies to put their own house in order. I challenge our 200,000 entrepreneurs, especially those who constantly criticize the education system and universities in particular."
"Let’s start by raising awareness and encouraging goodwill among ourselves! We have everything to gain on both sides, from improving mutual understanding and collaboration. Businesses should not take over the governance of educational institutions; we operate in different fields."
"There are still many business leaders and HR managers who have not yet reached out to the business offices established in vocational high schools. Let’s equip ourselves with the means to achieve our ambitions!"
Despite uncertainty, "pathways forward" must be identified
When asked about the theme of the 10th edition of Think; "progressing in an uncertain world" Patrick Martin responded:
"There are external uncertainties (the health crisis, the war in Ukraine...), and we are also creating uncertainty on the political front at the moment.
One way to address this is by sharing analyses, perceptions, and concerns, not to reassure ourselves, but because we need to identify and seize opportunities. There are pathways forward and very interesting initiatives to be pursued."
A partnership between the MEDEF and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris
The MEDEF and Numeum, one of its federations focused on digital industries, conducted a nationwide AI tour, which concluded on February 4 with the signing of a partnership with IP Paris," stated Patrick Martin.
This agreement aims to "support companies in navigating technological, economic, and societal transformations," according to IP Paris.
"On the topic of AI, which is inherently anxiety-inducing, we must adopt a positive outlook and demonstrate to businesses across all sectors that it is not just a matter for specialists but a source of opportunities, including business opportunities," concluded the MEDEF president.
"Today, this model is still insufficiently structured, largely due to a lack of a clear and shared framework. It would be useful to formalize these collaborations through a common reference framework and a system of KPIs to measure their impact."
"Universities will need to position themselves and innovate on these issues because companies are accelerating.
- In France, 48% of companies that responded to Emerging Group's ranking already have a team dedicated to cooperation with universities.
- They plan to reach 72% by 2027, a figure that places France in the global average."
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