On September 26th, at the Cité du Cinéma, Paris 2024 launched a major recruitment operation in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This event, in partnership with companies and local authorities, will provide concrete job opportunities ahead of the global event.
The chosen location, the Cité du Cinéma, is not a random choice. In July 2024, it will host the restaurant of the Olympic Village. Paris 2024 will allow its partners and local authorities to meet with job seekers at this venue. Five villages, representing the five Olympic rings, will bring together different stands and the 16,000 job offers available on September 26th. The program includes a recruitment forum with nearly fifty companies and a sports job dating event. Roundtable discussions will also be organized to provide an update on employment, training, and support less than a year before the Games.
The construction sector, whose projects for Paris 2024 are coming to an end, will not be the most represented sector during this recruitment event. Since the beginning of the year and leading up to the Games, the most in-demand sectors are organization and tourism, with two specific job families: catering and private security. “The recruitment dynamics should intensify until the Games,” says Christophe Lepetit, Head of Economic Studies and Partnerships at CDES in Limoges. Not all jobs will be long-term, as most will only be available during the Games period.
According to CDES figures, over 181,000 people will work directly for the Games. The main sectors involved from 2018 to 2024 are: organization, with 89,300 jobs (78,300 estimated in 2019, updated in 2023); tourism, with 61,800 jobs (60,000 in 2019, updated in 2022); and the construction sector, with 30,000 people working on Solideo projects (11,700 estimated in 2019).
For example, over 6,300 job offers will be available on September 26th in the hotel and restaurant sector. There will be 5,190 recruitment opportunities for security, a highly in-demand profession as the Olympics approach. Over 4,000 people have already registered to participate in this event. Pôle emploi, the French employment agency, has also strengthened its collaboration with Olympic companies over the past few months. For instance, the organization is already supporting 6,200 individuals in the security sector.
The RATP (Paris public transportation company) is actively recruiting for the Olympics. 70% of the trips during the event will be made on RATP-operated lines. For example, the RATP plans to hire 4,900 permanent employees, offer 1,000 apprenticeship contracts, and provide 700 integration contracts for various positions such as bus and subway drivers, as well as station agents. Importantly, most of these positions are open to individuals without degrees or formal training. The RATP must therefore anticipate its recruitment in order to train its future employees in time.
Feeding the Olympic family will also be crucial. This is the mission of Sodexo Live, which is launching its recruitment process to find 6,000 individuals. “Sodexo Live will recruit, train, and mobilize 6,000 people to provide catering services at the Athletes’ Village and competition venues for Paris 2024. Regardless of age or profession, everyone will come out of this adventure with new skills and unforgettable memories. Participating in such an event from the inside is a unique opportunity in a professional lifetime. We will build a dynamic team, attentive and ready to tackle the biggest challenges, for athletes and spectators from around the world,” says Franck Chanevas, CEO of Sodexo Live for France and Spain.
Paris 2024 will also be a major recruiter. Currently employing 1,700 people, the organizing committee is expected to have 4,000 staff members during the Games in July 2024. The peak of recruitment will occur in June with 1,500 hires. “The Paris 2024 Games must also create opportunities for people who are far from employment,” says Marie Barsacq, Director of Impact & Legacy at Paris 2024. For example, Paris 2024 will hire individuals to conduct inspections in the Olympic Village. Most of these positions will be open in early 2024.
“The scale of the challenge is quite massive. We are now entering a more operational phase. Our role is to build teams that can support the implementation of strategies at various Paris 2024 sites. We are concretely organizing the event,” explains Chantal Lasnier, Deputy Director of Talent & Diversity at Paris 2024.
