Struggle to find tradespeople for home repairs in France, survey finds
67% of respondents believe 'the government could implement more measures to improve the situation'
One reason France does not have an abundance of handymen is the country’s strong tradition of DIY
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Two-thirds (66%) of people polled in France have had difficulty finding a tradesperson to do work, according to a recent survey.
The poll published by Travaux, an online platform where users can search for tradespeople, also found that 67% of respondents believe "the government could implement more measures to improve the situation”.
Connexion reader John Hall said the problem is worse when it comes to tackling smaller jobs.
“Big jobs like full reroofing or window replacement seem fine, but if you need a cracked tile replaced or a window seal fixed, they often do not respond – or fail to show up for appointments.
“Twice, I arranged visits for quotes and neither tradesperson followed up. Most recently, I have received no replies at all to several emails about a simple window repair.”
A 2025 article in Le Point suggested “craftsmanship is in crisis” – but some regions are worse off than others.
Corsica and Paris are where people struggle most to find tradespeople, according to a ranking by Le Figaro. It identified the south of France (Alpes-Maritimes, Var, Bouches-du-Rhone) as another problem area.
Industry organisations such as Capeb (Confédération de l’Artisanat et des Petites Entreprises du Bâtiment) have also raised the alarm, saying overall activity declined in 2024.
Jobs in demand
Vocational and educational training provider CCCA-BTP has published a list of the jobs that are currently in demand, by region of France. In Brittany, for example, carpenters and masons are needed, while in Occitanie the jobs with shortages include roofers, construction workers and painters.
However, a spokesperson for the Chamber of Trades and Crafts (Chambre des Métiers et de l'Artisanat) told The Connexion that “the craft sector is a dynamic one that offers numerous job opportunities”.
For his part, Mr Hall would like to see more people willing to do “odd-jobs” in France.
But with trades highly regulated, handymen in France are restricted to only the most basic of tasks.
These include small DIY jobs that can be completed in under two hours and which do not require any professional skills.
To find a reliable tradesman, it can be worth checking their Siret number on the Chambre de Metiers website to ensure they are registered.
Another reason France does not have an abundance of handymen is the country’s strong tradition of DIY.
Some 44% of French people undertake DIY at least once a month and 21% at least once a week according to a 2023 OpinionWay poll.
