Increasing Unemployment Among Experienced Professionals
More and more people are finding themselves in a situation of unemployment, including those with several years of professional experience. This phenomenon is particularly visible on platforms like LinkedIn, where many executives and seniors are struggling to find a new job, despite having a solid track record.
Reasons for Difficulty in Finding Employment
Several reasons explain this difficulty, mainly the high salary cost of experienced profiles, which can deter recruiters during periods of budget restrictions. Additionally, some recruiters have a persistent idea that a senior would be too specialized, too expensive, or less adaptable than a young graduate. Finally, the job market today values great flexibility, such as freelancing or short-term missions, which not all experienced professionals know how to approach well.
Strategies for Overcoming Unemployment
In the face of this situation, it is essential to review one's application to get past automatic sorting systems. The CV must be adapted to each offer with precise keywords, and it is necessary to prioritize numerical achievements rather than a simple list of past responsibilities.
Alternative Strategies
Changing targets can be a paying strategy, by turning to consulting, interim management, SMEs that need expertise without being able to hire a permanent employee, or salary portage and freelancing as a transition. In parallel, a short training course on a trendy skill (Power BI, agile project management, applied AI) allows you to demonstrate your ability to adapt and unlock interviews.
Salary Expectations
Reviewing salary expectations in a strategic way can also help. Temporarily accepting a lower salary to get a job allows for reintegration, even if it means negotiating other benefits (part-time, telecommuting, training, rapid evolution after six months).
Challenges in the Tunisian Job Market
In Tunisia, the job market suffers from several rigidities that complicate the return to employment for seniors and experienced profiles. The Labor Code, although it protects employees, makes dismissal procedures long and costly, which encourages employers to hesitate before hiring, particularly senior profiles whose salary is higher.
Informal Economy
The informal economy, which remains massive, distorts competition and pushes many companies to prefer precarious or undeclared contracts rather than permanent contracts for experienced profiles, considered too expensive.
Consequences
The result is that many end up accepting jobs below their level or turning to self-employment for lack of better options, but without a suitable social safety net. The phenomenon of "disguised unemployment" is frequent. Executives remain stuck in subordinate missions or precarious contracts, eroding their confidence and future employability.
