When La Réunion was decolonized in 1946, the island had full employment. From the end of the war until the late 1960s, this was the norm. Agriculture and industry provided many jobs. The increase in population was used solely in the interests of the former colonial power. Every year, thousands of young people were given a one-way ticket to France, to help enrich the country. These were the lifeblood of La Reunion Island.

25% unemployment since 1975

The transformation from plantation to service economy was rapid. It resulted in major social dislocation. The State, which was responsible for employment, did not support the creation of new growth drivers. The construction sector did not compensate for the disappearance of industry. This has maintained the colonial relationship in La Réunion, an export territory for French companies and a source of raw materials for the french industry. In terms of volume, sugar is still the main export, as it was in colonial times.
Population growth, the exile of young people and the absence of new industry have led to a shortage of jobs. As far back as 1975, a study by the General Council showed that 25% of working-age people in La Reunion were either totally or partially unemployed. This proportion has changed little over the last 50 years. For the public authorities, the challenge is to manage this shortage as effectively as possible, while maintaining social peace.

Managing the shortage

This is reflected in the actions carried out by France Travail, described by the deputy director of the structure in La Réunion, during her appearance on the midday news of Réunion Première.
There was a lot of talk about work immersion, career and training fairs, and job dating - brief meetings between employers and dozens of job applicants. All of this is a far cry from a vast economic recovery plan with quantified targets and an ad-hoc training plan.
In today’s globalized economy, some countries are managing to make progress towards full employment, while guaranteeing adequate incomes for their populations. But they are not a source of inspiration for the authorities responsible for employment in La Réunion Island.
All the measures proposed in our country aim to restore hope of having or finding a job, but they offer no guarantees. The only figure quoted was that of professional immersion: 70% of beneficiaries eventually find a job. But how many beneficiaries, and how long it takes to find a job, remain a mystery.

Buying social peace

Relying on a system of aid and subsidies, the main objective remains to buy social peace on La Reunion Island. The priority is to prevent a people from revolting against a system that condemns half the population to unemployment and precarious employment. Since development is not the preferred route to solving this problem, the priority is to manage shortages. We have to make do with 180,000 jobseekers for a total population of 850,000. The current framework does not allow for a downward trend, as evidenced by the multitude of program laws that have succeeded one another since the 1960s.
If Paris was capable of improving the situation, how do you explain that this succession of laws has led to the current situation?

M.M.