Pillon, Jean-Marie
Creating transparency in the labor market: A job in its own right
- 2015.
20
The internet has raised considerable expectations in terms of bringing jobseekers and recruiters together, yet there have been few attempts to make full use of its ability to help reduce unemployment. The concept of a transparent labor market, often held to be a particular strength of the internet, in fact dates back to the French national employment agency’s (ANPE) founding mission statement in 1967. The emphasis it placed on promoting information channels to develop a fluid labor market was maintained, even when mass unemployment became the norm. ANPE’s successor, Pôle Emploi’s stance on transparency, however, has developed a more managerial tone. Jobseeking is being automated to speed up the process, allowing staff to handle more cases. This strategy overlooks the fact that one or more intermediaries must necessarily be involved to enable information to circulate. This article analyzes the diversity of such processes and the ways they structure the matching of workers with positions.