France compétences, the governing body and funding for vocational training in France, has compiled a list of 20 professions in progress for this year 2021, which will shape the jobs of tomorrow.

And as last year 2020, this body created under the Professional Future Act of 2018 and chaired by Stephane Lardy, former director of the Workforce Organization Forces Ouvrieres, has relied on the work of branches and trade unions to identify these emerging occupations.

Repair specialist and even technician, installation and maintenance of power systems from the required professions (Shutterstock)

Promising hubs

Writer William Blumer says in a report published in the French newspaper "lefigaro" that for the second year in a row, 4 promising axes were taken into account when choosing:

1. Environmental transformation.

2. The strategy of transferring economic activities.

3. Update networks and infrastructure.

4. Digitization and artificial intelligence.

The profession of testing products, materials and building waste is required due to the green economy orientation (Shutterstock)

Recovery plan priorities

These axes constitute the priorities of Jean Castix's government, and the goals laid out by the recovery plan implemented by the French government as part of the 2021 budget approved by the French Parliament last December.

On the list we find the professions of examiner of products, materials and building waste, repair specialist or even technician of installation and maintenance of energy systems, due to the development of the green economy (environmental).

Others are related to digital transformation such as data engineer, internet of things engineer, and systems digitization expert.

In-demand occupations take into account environmental problems and energy renewal (Shutterstock)

Accelerate certification

Some other professions are more traditional, but they address the problem of labor shortages. This is the case with paramedics, clerics, plumbers, heating specialists, and metal lock makers.

As Michael Sharbett, Director of Professional Certificates at France Compettons explained, “Behind the seemingly classic occupations important transformations can emerge. Considering environmental problems and energy regeneration, so when looking at qualifications and diplomas, we notice a gap between training and needs at the skill level.

And it seems that preparing a list of promising careers is not an end in itself.

As for France Compitons, the goal is to improve and facilitate the accreditation of training courses in these professions thanks to the simplified registration procedures in the National Directory of Professional Certificates.

Accelerate registration of training courses when there is a need for skills development (Shutterstock)

The need to develop skills

"The goal is to adopt an exception to expedite registration of training courses when there is a need for skills development," Sharbett explains. "The issue of responsiveness is essential."

In view of the crisis and the very potential increase in employee retraining needs, France Compitons decided to accelerate the issuance of certificates for the most promising occupations, which are on the list prepared in 2020.