Study on non-management position in French chemical industry

Changes in recruitment and in-house promotion processes have been analyzed by Céreq (Centre d’études et de recherches sur les qualifications) and published in a recent study. The study particularly concerns non-managerial positions for companies in the chemical industries sector.

 

Modern companies with need for new blood

The study was commissioned and carried out by Céreq on the initiative of OPIC (Observatoire des industries chimiques) in 2016. The paper focuses  on the impact of work transformation on recruitment methods and jobs, particularly how this affects manufacture and maintenance positions in the chemical industry.

 

The analysis reveals that after the restructuring of the chemical industry that took place between 1982 and 2012, significant changes occurred. As a result of this restructuring, the number of employees has been halved in the face of automation and the industry also currently faces the problem of an aging workforce. Companies must therefore take steps to find replacements for those who are set to retire in the near future with the training of new recruits an important factor to be taken into consideration.

 

Focus on versatility

The chemical industries have undergone transformations which have also affected manufacturing and maintenance functions. Thus, in terms of skills, manufacturing operators are currently more versatile and multi-skilled with in-house training with peers put forward as the major reason for this skill growth. In addition, the installation of machines is now carried out internally, thus further diversifying the skills of the teams. These two trades have thus gained in terms of qualification levels due to the transformation of the work process in the chemical industry.