Recruitment programmes

Some European countries lack sufficient labour—a shortage that can be one of the biggest obstacles to setting up operations for a foreign company. Fortunately Hauts-de-France has a wide, deep pool of available talent that ensures optimum recruitment opportunities. And the broad range of training options available right here will help you find the skillsets you need. Is your project likely to create a large number of jobs? Tell us and we’ll bring together all stakeholders to design a customised recruitment programme just for you.

Average labour turnover — 2013 to 2018

Source: « Preparing for take-off » Hay Group

Available labour

Availability of human capital is a deal-maker—or breaker—when considering an operation outside your home country. Given tight labour markets in Europe and the shortage of potential employees, companies can find themselves caught up in fierce competition for available human resources. But in Hauts-de-France there is no such pressure. Our region has large pools of available labour that you can access to recruit the employees you need:

job-seekers in logistics

job-seekers in services

job-seekers in manufacturing

These abundant pools of available labour tend to reduce employee turnover. Note that in France in general—and in Hauts-de-France in particular—staff retention rates are higher than the average for Europe and the rest of the world. Staff turnover has a direct impact on your company’s finances. When an employee leaves, the average cost of recruiting and hiring a replacement is estimated at 3-6 months of salary—and even as high as 9 months when training is added in. That figure comprises administration, recruitment and hidden costs such as losses in productivity due to unfilled positions, plus the time needed for HR, administrative and managerial staff to handle the departure.

Qualified workforce

But wide, deep pools of available labour are only part of the HR benefits that Hauts-de-France offers. We’re also home to a wide selection of training opportunities. Hauts-de-France is a young region—32% of the population is under 25—and it is densely populated, with 6 million residents and large metropolitan areas. This, in turn, has naturally led to comprehensive training offerings that cover a wide range of skills. From technical staff for manufacturing to pharmaceutical engineers and customer service managers, many of your future employees will already have been trained right here in Hauts-de-France. Fast facts:

Over 0 %

of French engineers are trained in Hauts-de-France

~ 0

students, or about 9% of all students in France

over 0

elite graduate schools for engineering, business and other specialities

universities

Hauts-de-France is also the top-ranked region in France for continuing professional development delivered by universities. In addition to academic training, we have many professional entities that help employees train and retrain throughout their careers.

Regional experts help you find your future employees

A multitude of private-sector recruitment specialists are on hand to help with new hires. But you can also benefit free of charge from regional assistance to locate the candidates you need and key skillsets for your new operation here.

Proch’Emploi: regional recruitment assistance

To facilitate recruitment, Hauts-de-France has developed and deployed Proch’Emploi, a programme using a three-step process:

A toll-free number—0 800 026 080, within France—operating Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.00.
A meeting at your premises to define your needs
Contact with quality candidates within a month.

Located in labour pools across the region, Proch’Emploi centres promote direct contact between employers and jobseekers. To generate more leads, they work in tandem with France’s nationwide job-centre network Pôle Emploi and with local teams.

For businesses whose operations require specialised training, Hauts-de-France has set up Pass Emploi, a customised programme that gives companies access to training subsidies in exchange for a commitment to hire.

Need to fill a lot of new positions? Call on NFI

If your new or expanded business will create at least 100 new jobs, Nord France Invest can organise a recruitment programme just for you.

To save time and facilitate hiring: we set up a dedicated team that brings together all public stakeholders involved in recruitment and employment in the area—Pôle Emploi, Proch’Emploi, Maisons de l’Emploi, community agencies and more. There is simply no better way to ensure that your needs and priorities are understood by one and all. The team then meets with you before kicking off the project.