This blog is part of our series on “Leveraging the Olympics and Paralympic Games for Local Development”. By sharing insights, best practices and success stories, this campaign seeks to inspire and guide future host cities and relevant stakeholders in maximising the benefits of such global events.
As soon as Paris was awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mayor Anne Hidalgo was determined that the legacy of this historic event would extend beyond new sports infrastructure for Parisians. We wanted to seize this opportunity to create jobs and transform lives.
We wanted to involve all Parisians in this adventure, particularly those furthest from the job market: young people with little or no qualifications, residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods, people with disabilities, seniors and women.
© David Aimedieu- Ville de Paris
An action plan to remobilise, train and recruit for the Games
In 2018, we launched the “EnJeux Emplois” action plan: a €4 million initiative to implement actions for remobilisation, support, and training towards jobs created by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, particularly in event management, security, construction and sports.
We collaborated with training organisations deeply embedded in our communities, known for their innovative teaching methods, focusing more on “soft skills” and candidate motivation rather than experience.
We also guided public employment actors and companies towards new sourcing and recruitment methods. Our job-dating events, “From Stadium to Employment,” where candidates and recruiters meet anonymously through a sports activity, have shown spectacular results. Since 2022, we have successfully conducted 23 sessions, engaging 2,000 job seekers and 206 companies, with an average recruitment rate of 60% in 2023.
Reimagining our relationship with companies
We redefined our relationship with businesses by encouraging them to sign “Parisian Employment Pacts,” urging them to consider individuals far from the job market in exchange for our assistance in sourcing, candidate preparation, and organising recruitment actions. Over thirty companies, of all sizes and sectors, including the official partners of the Games, are now signatories of one of these pacts.
© David Aimedieu- Ville de Paris
The Games as a Catalyst for Social Innovation Policies
The results speak for themselves. 4,000 Parisians have benefited from personalised employment pathways at no cost, with over 80% securing a job or continuing education. Among them, more than 50% do not have a high school diploma, and 20% are Active Solidarity Income recipients.
These Olympic and Paralympic Games have already stimulated new thinking around access to employment for those furthest from it. Innovations such as the ” Zero Long-term Unemployment Territory” experiment (four areas in Paris supported by the City, working to offer tailored employment opportunities to those furthest from the job market) and the “First Hour Scheme” (supporting homeless individuals to resume activity suited to their needs and capabilities) are part of this dynamic.
© Ville de Paris
Ensuring the Legacy Lives On
But this is just the beginning. We know we must work hard to ensure the legacy endures. We must work to support those mobilised in Games-related jobs, as not all positions are permanent. We must adapt our training offers, pacts, and events to provide tailored support to those who have been the backbone of this event. And we must work more closely with Parisian businesses, particularly in sectors facing workforce shortages.
This is a long-term effort, requiring sustained political commitment: citius, altius, fortius for employment, solidarity, and a responsible economy – this is, and must remain, our guiding principle.
The OECD Programme on global events (cultural, sports and business) helps those involved build a legacy of local development. We work with event hosts from national or local governments, the private sector, and cultural, sports or business associations to reap greater local benefits from such events.
This article is also available in French.
