• Recruitments of young graduates fell by 26% in 2020 due to the health crisis.

  • The situation should improve, however, because Apec forecasts that hiring will increase by 13% in 2021 compared to last year.

  • But the level of recruiting of junior executives will not reach that before the crisis.

They had the misfortune of finishing their studies in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. Young graduates have been hit hard by the deterioration of the job market. According to a study * by Apec, their recruitments fell by 26% in 2020. “As in previous economic crises, they acted as an adjustment variable for companies”, underlines Gilles Gateau, CEO of Apec.

Result: only 69% of young graduates of the 2019 class declared themselves to be employed twelve months after obtaining their diploma, against 85% for the 2018 class, according to the barometer ** of the professional integration of young graduates of the Apec.

Not surprisingly, graduates in technological sciences fit in much better than graduates in letters, languages ​​and the arts.

And for those who have settled down, the crisis has worsened their integration conditions, since only 59% of members of the 2019 class have a permanent contract, against 69% for the 2018 class. They also had to accept less attractive salaries, since their median annual remuneration was 31,000 euros gross per year, against 32,000 for their elders.

Competition will be stronger between candidates

Their situation should improve a little by the end of 2021. Apec forecasts that the recruitment of young graduates will increase by 13% compared to 2020. The IT and research and development functions will be those who will recruit the most. "But with 39,990 hires planned for the year, we will still be far below the pre-crisis level (47,000 in 2019)", explains Gaël Bouron, deputy head of the studies department of Apec. Suddenly, competition between candidates will still be strong, “since there will be a traffic jam on the job market. Part of the promotion released in 2019 is still looking for a job, like the one released in 2020, while that of 2021 will arrive, ”warns Gilles Gateau.

To optimize the chances of getting a job, Apec offers candidates to participate in the “first job objective” workshop until the summer of 2021. “Eight out of ten candidates who took it got an interview. hiring, ”says Gilles Gateau.

A difficult insertion that will leave traces

The hope of a more favorable upturn is not excluded, however, in the event of a stronger economic recovery than expected at the end of 2021. Because companies may have to revise their hiring intentions if the health situation stabilizes and if household consumption is picking up more quickly than expected after the gradual lifting of restrictions.

The various recovery plans could also improve the visibility that companies will have, and encourage them to strengthen their teams.

The fact remains that young graduates run the risk of retaining the scars of their difficult start in working life for a long time: “Having less access to certain positions and levels of remuneration than their elders will have effects several years later on the progress of their career. career ”, explains Gaël Bouron.

This was shown by a study by the Center for Studies and Research on Qualifications (Céreq) on the generation who entered the labor market in 2010, at the end of the 2008-2009 crisis.

Economy

Coronavirus: What solutions would be effective in combating poverty among 18-25 year olds?

Economy

Coronavirus: User support technician, warehouse keeper, new generation disinfector… What professions have been booming since the health crisis?

* Survey carried out between January and March 2021 among 8,000 companies representing the distribution by region, size and sector of activity of private sector employees in mainland France and representing 1.4 million employees, including 345,500 executives.

** 2021 barometer of the integration of young graduates, which is based on the survey of 1,000 young graduates with Bac +5 or more and 500 young graduates with Bac +3/4, aged 20 to 30 years at the time of the survey, having graduated in 2019 and living in mainland France.

The online field was conducted between January 18 and February 16, 2021.

  • Youth employment

  • Job

  • Frame

  • Economy

  • Employment