Integration through economic activity (IEA) is an original scheme: the State entrusts over 3,700 private entities, whom it granted €846m in subsidies in 2017, with the task of providing the unemployed individuals furthest from employment with socio-professional assistance. The European Social Fund (ESF) and local authorities also contribute towards their funding. 134,000 individuals were in the process of undertaking integration courses within these structures at the end of 2017.
The Cour des Comptes has a positive view of this scheme, which provides responses to the integration difficulties experienced by the public in question.
In order to improve its performance, it has formulated ten recommendations to the Ministry of Labour and to Pôle Emploi (French unemployment agency).
