Companies operating in the industry need to recruit significant numbers of workers but are finding it increasingly hard to do so. Job vacancies in some trades are no longer being filled, e.g. stitchers working in the leather goods industry, even though the companies concerned can offer their employees good prospects, satisfactory wages and a sense of pride in belonging to a unique value chain that makes an important contribution to the French economy.
This situation reflects the fact that young people and their parents are not fully conversant with the jobs on offer in the leather industry. The CNC showcases the 100 leather trades and training courses on offer by taking part iǹ a major event entitled l’Aventure des Métiers [‘the Trades Adventure’], held annually in November.
Communication and information actions are also undertaken in the regions of France where the leather industry is most strongly represented (Alsace, Lorraine, Aquitaine, Centre, Rhône-Alpes, Midi-Pyrénées).
Not enough young people are currently undergoing initial training, despite the strong demand for trained workers. Moreover, not all of the initial training courses on offer meet the current needs of leather goods and footwear companies.
The industry relies on a network of 165 colleges in France, which prepare their students for 63 diplomas (ranging from the CAP to the BTS vocational training certificates) across all sectors: shoe manufacture, shoe repairs/bespoke shoemaking, design/fashion, furs, leather apparel, leather goods, leather bookbinding and gilding, saddle-making, tanning, etc.
To boost the leather industry’s appeal among young people, CTC has set up partnerships with establishments whose profile is rooted in ‘science and technology’ or ‘fashion’: examples include a leather engineering school (ITECH), Savoie University (sports engineering), the Institut Colbert and the Institut Français de la Mode [‘French Fashion Institute’], which introduce students to the products and materials specific to the leather industries.
To remedy the problems encountered in training young people, the federations committed themselves long ago to promoting vocational training.
They are being supported by CTC which, at their request, is putting forward suitable training plans for their consideration.
With a view to perpetuating brand know-how, CTC also runs training courses for in‑house trainers – a solution that enables companies to react rapidly to changes.