In France Travail agencies, nearly a thousand psychologists strive to support job seekers who are sometimes deeply vulnerable due to redundancy, harassment, or a chaotic career path. Mélanie Cordazzo, a psychologist in Ingré (Loiret), works with around forty people who have lost their bearings, often recent graduates or workers broken by their past experiences. Their mission: to help each individual rebuild a positive self-image and understand the obstacles hindering a lasting return to employment.
Invisible suffering and social distress
These appointments also provide an opportunity to uncover other forms of pain, extending far beyond work. Sexual violence, exhaustion-related disorders, burnout, trauma… The psychologists at France Travail, who are not clinicians, often have to refer people to specialists. They also observe a growing phenomenon: “job search exhaustion,” where pressure, guilt, and administrative requirements drain the unemployed of their energy. In a context where only 40% of registered job seekers receive benefits and where the duration of compensation has been further reduced, financial hardship exacerbates psychological fragility.
Lack of resources and contradictions in the mission
Faced with immense demand, psychologists are denouncing a glaring lack of resources. Their role in listening sometimes clashes with the objectives of France Travail, which are refocused on a rapid return to employment: a "paradox" highlighted as early as 2024 by researchers. Despite this, many emphasize the positive impact of these consultations, which allow people "to have their suffering acknowledged." A crucial issue in a society where unemployment remains highly stigmatized.
