The ongoing collaboration between France Travail and LinkedIn is sparking internal criticism. This pilot project, launched in five regions, aims to enhance recruitment but raises concerns about data protection and the public service's core mission.
For several months, France Travail's management has been developing a pilot project with LinkedIn in five regions: Hauts-de-France, Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The goal is twofold, according to a document presented to the central social and economic committee in September: "improve the fill rate of job offers" and "increase the use of France Travail".
In practice, 500 voluntary counselors from France Travail Pro services receive a specific LinkedIn license, typically used by HR directors for recruiting. This tool enables agents to identify new employers, access all job offers available on the social network—which has 34 million users in France—and promote job seeker profiles based on the positions offered.
However, this initiative is heightening internal concerns. Beyond the risk of drifting from the public employment service's primary mission, the main criticisms focus on the protection of users' personal data.