Between difficulties and evolution, how is craftsmanship doing in the Gard ?

Potière depuis 28 ans, Noëlle Jean est à son compte depuis deux ans. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

À l’occasion de la troisième édition du forum de l’artisanat, un petit tour d’horizon du secteur s’imposait…

How is craftsmanship doing in Gard? Vast question… and the third edition of the craft forum, organized by the Chamber of Trades and Crafts (CMA) of Gard, was an opportunity to take stock of the situation in the department.

"A rather contrasting situation"

It has established itself as an unmissable meeting place for local entrepreneurs and artisans. On the occasion of the craft forum, this Thursday, May 23, Xavier Perret, president of the CMA du Gard, presented a contrasting picture of the sector. "We are facing a rather contrasting situation between a large majority of sectors which are suffering and the fact that more and more companies are setting up in the Gard", he explained. Despite its dynamism, crafts continue to face difficulties, particularly in the construction sector. "There isn’not really a driving force either", he added.

Despite these challenges, craftsmanship proves its ability to adapt to changes in the modern world. "We see for example that we have adapted very well to social networks, we have very good communicators among the artisans ", explained the president of the CMA. This dynamism is illustrated by the testimonies of professionals like Noëlle Jean, potter, who notes a sharp increase in registrations in her field with the Chamber of Trades. "We are in the market a lot", she explained, highlighting the growing competitiveness of the sector.

Food-related professions represent an important part of craftsmanship. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

A sector more important than Airbus!

In 2024, Gard will have nearly 31,000 craft businesses. For Katy Guyot, regional advisor, it's a great satisfaction: "Craftsmanship is the number one business in France! It’s a booming sector full of real gems“, she exclaimed before recalling that the Region plays a crucial role in financial engineering to support the economic development of the sector. "There there is a real challenge regarding transmission in all sectors."

Also present this Thursday, Christian Poujol, president of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Hérault and vice-president of the Regional Chamber of Occitanie recalled the ;rsquo;scale of craftsmanship, "a sector more important than Airbus in terms of diversity and impact. " With more than 250 professions, and some that are added regularly, crafts represent a major economic force in the Gard department.

Some figures in Gard

The Gard department currently has 28,409 active craft businesses. In 2023, the Chamber of Trades and Crafts welcomed 2,019 people, achieved 400 accompaniments à creation via its economic development service, and supported 1,100 young businesses. &Also, 1 305 trainees benefitedé training.