Promoting the Hiring and Retention of Young People and Older Workers: The Case of La Poste

On January 29, 2026, Impact France and Wavestone released a national study “Quantifying the Economic Value of Corporate Commitment”. The goal: to translate the economic benefits of companies’ social and environmental initiatives into avoided costs for society. Among the seven case studies analyzed, the one on La Poste focuses on a key social issue: hiring and retaining young people (under 30) and older workers (over 55), two groups particularly vulnerable to unemployment and long-term exclusion from the labor market.

A human resources policy focused on groups that are underrepresented in the workforce

La Poste Group is an international, multi-sector group with a presence in more than 60 countries across five continents. Reflecting its identity and values, the group carries out four public service missions entrusted to it by the French government. Having become a mission-driven company in 2021, La Poste remains committed to social responsibility, particularly in support of the most vulnerable members of society.

In this context, the study examines the group’s HR policy regarding hiring and job retention for two target groups that can be considered “vulnerable,” and for whom La Poste is already implementing significant initiatives in the area of social inclusion:

Young people under the age of 30, particularly through:

- The annual hiring of approximately 25,000 young people nationwide, representing 50% of all permanent hires made in 2024;

- More than 7% of the young people hired come from priority neighborhoods.

Seniors aged 55 and older, particularly through:

- 46,000 seniors employed by La Poste SA;

- A significant proportion of older adults (ages 50–59) who have taken advantage of internal mobility (32.6%);

- The implementation of measures to adapt working conditions for older postal workers performing the most physically demanding tasks.

These figures reflect an operational commitment that adapts to varying wage conditions. The study aims to assess the impact of this on the government.

As Stéphanie Dupuy-Lyon, Director of Social Engagement at La Poste Group, notes: “Through its mission statement, La Poste has cemented a core ambition: to serve everyone and be of use to each individual. The ‘avoided costs’ methodology is particularly valuable for quantifying our impact on society at large and reflecting our vision of a sustainably profitable and responsible company".

Measuring the impact: comparing to understand

To measure the effects of this policy, studies are based on a simple principle: comparing the observed situation to a baseline scenario in order to estimate the public and social costs avoided as a result of the company’s actions. In the case of La Poste, the scenario is clear: what would happen if these people—both young and older—were not employed?

The baseline scenario used in these two studies is non-employment (unemployment or inactivity). The difference between these two scenarios thus makes it possible to estimate the costs avoided by the government*.

€1.9 billion in avoided costs in 2024 thanks to La Poste’s efforts

Taking into account the employment of young people and seniors at La Poste, the study estimates that the government will save 1.9 billion euros in 2024. This amount breaks down as follows:

● €354 million in avoided costs resulting from La Poste’s initiatives to hire and retain young people.

● €1.5 billion in avoided costs resulting from La Poste’s initiatives to hire and retain older workers.

This figure reflects a simple reality: when people are employed rather than unemployed, the government spends less and collects more. And this holds true over the long term. In practical terms, these 1.9 billion euros mainly cover:

● unpaid or reduced benefits (unemployment, retirement, and related assistance),

● avoided public spending (administrative costs, measures related to inactivity),

● Social security contributions and taxes collected through employment.

This is therefore not a theoretical valuation, but a direct budgetary effect on public finances.

Catching up with Europe in terms of youth and senior employment

The study does not stop at the case of La Poste. It also examines what the impact would be of a broader effort by companies to promote employment among young people and older workers. To this end, it uses a simple comparative scenario: bringing France’s situation in line with the European average regarding employment rates for these groups. Today, France still lags behind on both of these indicators.

● Among young people, the unemployment rate for those under 30 is 8.1% in France, compared with 6.3% in the European Union, with a so-called “scarring effect” that can have a lasting impact on career trajectories.

● Among older adults, the employment rate for those aged 55–64 is 60.4% in France, compared with 65.2% in the European Union.

If France were to reach the average employment levels observed in the European Union, this would represent:

● An additional 192,000 young people in employment (FTE),

● An additional 3.1 million seniors in the workforce (full-time equivalents).

Using the same calculation method as in the La Poste case study, the report estimates that this alignment could generate nearly €100 billion in avoided costs for the public sector, including:

● €3.7 billion for youth employment

● 96 billion euros related to employment of older workers.

These figures illustrate the potential for scaling up: promoting access to and retention in employment for these groups is not only a social issue but also a major economic driver for public finances.

Download the study

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Moving from belief to proof

The case of La Poste demonstrates that a structured inclusion policy can be quantified, measured, and assessed from an economic perspective.

As Valérie Décaux, Deputy CEO in charge of human resources at La Poste Group, points out: “The results of this study show that strong corporate commitment to inclusive employment can have a decisive impact on society as a whole.”

More broadly, the study highlights a key point: when it is well-structured and fully embraced, an inclusion policy can be viewed not only as a social commitment, but also as a lever for measurable overall performance.

*The figures provided are rough estimates based on transparent and conservative assumptions, which are detailed in the full report.