The 20th
anniversary
edition
March 14 & 15, 2025
at UNESCO • Paris

Alban Gonord, what are the key takeaways from this 4th edition of the survey ? How do young people view the role of companies in society?

Alban Gonord : For the past four years, we’ve been conducting this survey to better understand the expectations of young people, their aspirations, and their relationship with businesses. As in previous years, nearly half of young people (45%) believe that the primary goal of companies is to create jobs and hire people, followed closely by the idea that companies should be useful to society (43%). The contribution of businesses to society is crucial for young people, and we have observed a consistent increase in the importance of this factor every year.

Another observation: nearly half of the young respondents expressed concern about not earning enough to meet their needs. This concern can be explained by an uncertain economic context and inflation, which has particularly affected young people in recent years. To feel secure, 40% prioritize finding a well-paid job above all.

Notably, young people also appear to be attached to traditional markers of success, such as owning property and family projects. These continue to be indicators of a successful life. It’s also interesting to note that this need for stability (often in the same company) coexists with a desire for mobility and professional advancement: 35% of young people want to change jobs regularly, and 65% aspire to ongoing professional training throughout their careers.

Solidarity is at the core of Macif's mutualist model. Is this value essential in the workplace for young people today?

It’s always worth emphasizing that solidarity is part of the mutualist DNA, and therefore Macif’s. This is a fundamental value for half of young people, alongside respect and trust—three key values that young people find most attractive. These results highlight that they are primarily seeking a human-centered company, where people can rely on each other. This is also true for management. Young people expect recognition, trust, and autonomy from their managers. They want their voices to be heard and considered.

On March 14th and 15th, the future will take center stage at the Université de la terre 2025, an event for which Macif is a major partner, at UNESCO. What would the ideal company look like for young people?

The trend observed for several years now is that half of young people surveyed dream of working for a French or local company, much more than for companies in the CAC 40 or foreign corporations. A company's territorial roots are seen as a strength by young people who feel connected to its values. That said, it’s important to add that the corporate world is not the only model young people favor, with one-third considering starting their own business.

For the first time, you decided to ask seniors about this same topic. Based on the results of these two surveys, can we say that young and senior people have completely opposing views of the world?

At Macif, protecting all generations sustainably and strengthening the bond that unites them is at the heart of our mission. That’s why we also wanted to understand the expectations of seniors regarding the company. To answer this question, several experts, including Jérémie Peltier, co-director of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, alongside a panel of both young and senior individuals, will be gathered on March 15th at l’Université de la terre 2025. This session aims to compare the expectations of two generations that seem to be entirely opposed but, in the end, are not so different after all. Politics, ecology, work... all major societal topics will be addressed.