What's the current state of cycling employment in France? The growth of the bicycle industry is forcing changes in the sector. Through meetings with industry experts and quantitative studies, this study provides an overview of the underlying trends in job opportunities in the sector.
Without being exhaustive, this study is based on an analysis of 1,400 public job offers, published on the Internet, in the bicycle industry.
There is no consolidated, reliable data on the total number of cycling jobs in France in 2022, 2021 or 2020...
We'd rather tell you right now. We don't want to sell you a dream.
Nevertheless, 4 out of 10 French people cycle at least once a week. It's likely, therefore, that this sector generates a considerable number of jobs.
However, in six years, everything has increased: bike deliveries, bike tourists, bike paths, bike brands, velotech startups, company bike plans...
In 30 years' time, futurists and utopians alike are predicting a "boom" in bicycle travel.
The Shift Project estimates that France will have more than 250,000 jobs in the bicycle sector by 2050.
This very macroeconomic data was the spark for this survey.
Through our two respective companies, one in the media (Le Concentré Vélo & Le Job Vélo) and the other in bike rental (Lokki), we interact daily with players in the bike industry.
For several months now, we've been hearing the same refrains:
- "I can't find a mechanic"
- "Don't you know of a Python dev available?"
- "All the applicants for the marketing position definitely lack bike culture"
- "We're obliged to pay them for training when they arrive. They don't know anything about bikes".
Paradoxically, we've never heard so much about the "big resignation", the "quest for meaning at work" and the "reconversion to the cycle sector".
Each of us has already received a phone call or Linkedin message from an old college classmate or colleague asking for advice on how to... work in the bike sector.
Without claiming to be exhaustive, but drawing on our respective expertise and our network, we've tried to dig into this subject.
This painstaking, albeit imperfect, work is nevertheless the first of its kind.
Based on meticulous monitoring, interviews and analysis of thousands of pieces of data from a dozen employment platforms, we have attempted to draw a map of "bicycle" recruitment.
Through this study, we hope to contribute to helping the bicycle industry and, in particular, recruiters who recognize themselves.
Léry & Guillaume
Lokki is THE all-in-one bike rental software. Today, Lokki supports both independent retailers and major retailers in the launch and day-to-day management of their rental operations.
Le Job Vélo is THE job site for the bicycle industry. This platform helps employers recruit candidates in all areas of the bicycle industry: marketing, R&D, consulting, mechanics, digital... It enables bicycle enthusiasts to find a job that matches their professional skills.
