In 2026, 210,000 hiring projects in PACA

The 2026 "Besoins en Main-d’Œuvre" (BMO) survey, published by France Travail, identified 209,630 recruitment projects in the region. This figure, despite marking a slight decline of 2.6% compared to the previous year, reflects economic vitality. However, behind this high volume lies a more complex reality: 38% of these recruitments are considered difficult by employers. Although this difficulty rate has clearly decreased by 10 points, it reveals persistent structural tensions in the regional labor market.

SEASONALITY

The analysis of the figures highlights the specific features of the regional economy. Services remain the main source of jobs, accounting for 68% of projects, led by personal and community services (26%), accommodation and catering (22%), and business services (20%). Agriculture and the food industry (12%) as well as retail and trade (11%) complete this picture. A major characteristic of the region remains the high seasonality of jobs, which represent 45% of projects, a figure well above the national average of 32%. The most sought-after professions are also those struggling the most to attract candidates. The top three most requested jobs are identical to those deemed the most difficult to fill: café and restaurant servers, kitchen assistants and versatile catering staff, and hotel staff. These highly seasonal professions suffer from a perceived mismatch of skills, sometimes demanding working conditions, and a lack of attractiveness. Farmers, winemakers, and care assistants are also among the most strained profiles. This situation particularly affects small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for more than 90% of hiring intentions in the region.

PROXIMITY

Faced with this challenge, France Travail is strengthening its action on the ground with a targeted sector-by-sector approach. More than 610 sector experts are mobilized to build tailored solutions with economic actors. The agency is relying on alternative recruitment methods, focusing on potential and soft skills rather than just the CV. In 2025, this strategy resulted in more than 10,000 pre-employment training courses, 18,000 professional immersions, and the assessment of more than 5,000 candidates without a CV. "Behind every recruitment project, there is a company that we support in a practical way. Our teams are mobilized daily to offer tailor-made solutions: recruitment without a CV, adapted training, immersions... everything is being done to facilitate hiring," emphasized Pascal Blain, regional director of France Travail Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.