On January 15, a working meeting was held, bringing together several key players in the region to discuss industrial and employment issues.

This meeting brought together five industrial companies, including CERN service providers, as well as representatives from UIMM and France Travail.

This initial meeting sought to lay the foundations for a collaborative working group, promoting exchange and co-construction between the various participants. Four main objectives structured the discussions:

• Getting to know each other better and sharing each other’s realities,
• Identifying the challenges and needs of industrial companies in the region,
• Defining a common roadmap,
• Clarifying how this future working group will operate.

The discussions brought to light shared issues, particularly around the attractiveness of industrial professions, access to skills, and the conditions for employees settling in the region.

At the end of the meeting, participants agreed to structure their work around three priority areas, with different timelines depending on the objectives and complexity of the actions to be taken:

1. Develop vocational and initial training in technical and industrial fields in the region in order to meet the skills needs of local businesses.
2. Enhance the visibility and attractiveness of industrial companies by highlighting their challenges and recruitment needs. With this in mind, a job fair dedicated to industry is planned for April/May 2026, aimed in particular at people undergoing professional retraining and young graduates.
3. Facilitate access to housing for businesses in the region by working on an offer tailored to the needs of employees in the Pays de Gex, a key issue for attracting and retaining talent.

This meeting marks an important step in the establishment of a collective dynamic to support local industry. The coming months will see these guidelines translated into concrete operational actions and strengthened partnerships.