Zero long-term unemployment territory in Landes: offering everyone a real opportunity to rebuild their lives

In 2025, initiatives aimed at reducing long-term unemployment have multiplied in France. Among them, the Territory Zero Unemployment program stands out for its innovative and ambitious approach. In the Landes region, this experiment offers a tangible glimmer of hope for people seeking employment and social reconstruction. In Mimizan, the first Employment-Oriented Enterprise (EBE) is enabling several individuals to regain professional dignity through personalized support and tailored work solutions. This article explores how this initiative could redefine the future of work for hundreds of people in the region. The Genesis of the Concept: Territory Zero Unemployment and Its Implications The Territory Zero Unemployment Long-Term Project (TZCLD) was born from a simple but revolutionary idea: to offer every person who has been out of work for a long time a genuine opportunity for professional reintegration. What seems like a utopia has been made possible thanks to innovative legislation and the strong commitment of stakeholders on the ground. The initiative is based on the deep conviction that no one is unemployable, thus maximizing the use of local and social resources to create jobs. This program primarily targets areas that have undergone significant deindustrialization or where the job market appears to have stalled. The pioneering territories’ mission is to demonstrate that completely eliminating long-term unemployment is an achievable goal through an integrated approach based on strong social and economic cohesion. This includes: Recognition of the often untapped skills of the unemployed. The creation of jobs adapted to the needs of the regions without competing with the existing sector. Redirected funding: social security benefits are replaced by wages financed by work performed.

In Mimizan, in the Landes region, this project resulted in the creation of the region’s first EBE: Seve 40 (Société des employés volontaires et engagés). Since its certification in July 2024, this initiative has been a model to follow. It immediately enabled 18 employees to sign permanent contracts and aims to double this number in the next two years.

Discover how to achieve zero unemployment in the long term through innovative strategies, effective employment programs, and community support. A future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive professionally. Seve 40 not only provides work; it also offers personalized support and ongoing training to ensure job sustainability. This approach has not only revitalized employment but also strengthened social and local ties. Seemingly modest projects, ranging from bike path maintenance to green space management, reveal a tremendous capacity for innovation in a friendly and supportive environment. Mimizan: an example of local economic solidarity At first glance, the charming town of Mimizan, nestled in the Landes region, might seem far removed from the economic turmoil experienced by large cities. However, it is not immune to employment-related challenges. Faced with an unemployment rate higher than the national average, Mimizan decided to take the lead with the Zero Unemployment Territory initiative.When local elected officials decided to get involved in 2021, they successfully mobilized a diverse range of stakeholders: the Landes Departmental Council, the Entr’Aide Travail du Born Association, and, of course, the French government. This exceptional synergy quickly led to the building of a solid network of partners. and define an ambitious action plan. Since then, Mimizan’s first

Employment Enterprise , Seve 40, has become a reflection of collective success. It reveals how alternating between varied activities, such as small-scale gardening and appliance repair, leads to effective and sustainable reintegration. Type of Work

• Community Benefits
• Number of People Employed
• Maintenance of Green Spaces

Improvement of Local Biodiversity

Small Appliance Repair Reduction of Electronic Waste 4 Home Help Services Support for the Elderly

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Distribution of Printed Materials

More Effective Local Communication 6 By transforming their obstacles into opportunities, the beneficiaries demonstrate extraordinary resilience. Working with Seve 40 becomes not only a source of income but, above all, a vehicle for social reintegration. It’s no longer simply a matter of “finding a job,” but of actively participating in the vitality of Mimizan while strengthening community cohesion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc4sZhiLmSQ

Challenges faced by the project in Mimizan Of course, the path to zero unemployment is fraught with pitfalls. One of the main challenges is ensuring the long-term financial viability of the experiment. The stakeholders involved must prove that paying unemployed people for work is no more expensive than compensating them through traditional social security systems. This approach requires constant adjustments and rigorous monitoring of the economic and social impact generated by the JEIs. There is also a pressing need to create a greater number of worker cooperatives.

, because some traditional activities cannot absorb all the job seekers. Fortunately, initiatives like Seve 40 show that the *circular economy* can be a powerful lever to unlock all this dormant potential.	Discover how to achieve a long-term unemployment rate close to zero through innovative strategies and effective initiatives aimed at strengthening employability and supporting job seekers.	An approach focused on personalized support and training
The success of the Territory Zero Unemployment program is largely based on the importance of personalized support. Seve 40 employees, for example, benefit from tailored support to maximize their individual strengths and address any skills gaps.	This system includes several key elements:	Regular training sessions to improve technical and interpersonal skills.
Psychological and social support to promote complete social reconstruction. Continuously updating career paths, thus ensuring successful and sustainable professional integration.	By investing in each individual, this approach creates a chain of skills and active solidarity that strengthens not only individuals but also the local economy. It also helps reduce the training and skills gap often observed among the long-term unemployed.	These concerted efforts illustrate the power of cooperative businesses in building a more equitable and sustainable future. The support of the Landes department is also essential, as Xavier Fortinon, president of the community of communes, emphasized, emphasizing the importance of a financially viable operation to demonstrate the effectiveness of this experiment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBwkzn1rHew	Impact and Future Outlook of the Program in the Landes	Since its inception, the program in the Landes has demonstrated a true capacity to transform local economic paradigms. The results speak for themselves, with several people, thanks to Seve 40, finding not only a job but also a vocation.
Currently, the territory of the Mimizan Community of Communes has approximately 590 unemployed people for more than a year, including 359 for more than two years. The stated goal of achieving zero unemployment is an ambitious undertaking, but it seems achievable thanks to these initiatives.	The stakeholders hope that other communities will adopt this model for their own citizens. They see it as an opportunity not only to revitalize local economies but also to create a more resilient and inclusive social fabric. With this in mind, projects strengthening the solidarity economy, steeped in the values ​​of sharing and mutual support, will be crucial in meeting the challenges of tomorrow. Action	Expected Impact

Objective

Continuing Training Workshops

Improvement of Employed Skills

100% of Employees Trained

Individualized Support Moral and Professional SupportSupport for All Employees

Diversification of Available JobsCreation of New EBEs As France continues to challenge unemployment through such experiments, it is crucial to keep in mind that the fight against long-term unemployment requires everyone’s commitment. By fostering innovation and collaborative work, these projects open up work solutions that serve as a reminder that a prosperous society can only be built by leaving no one behind.