Daryo Sep 21, 2013:

yes, but ... ST: "There's a pie chart that shows the qualifications of the workforce as follows: ..." the workforce found in a construction company / on a building site practicing "les métiers" is not the same as what is referred to as "les professionels du métier" when a whole sector in consulted for various reasons. I'm sure that with a bit of digging, one or two more possible meanings would emerge, applicable to some totally different context.

Notice also the order in which this qualifications are presented:

"Diplômés supérieur et moyens" is a higher level of qualification than "Techniciens qualifiés et Administratifs", which logically leaves the next slot down the list for what is considered as an even lesser qualification: those practicing what is called "trades" in the building industry.

Last but not least: these are not "professionnels du métier" (as would be architects in an architects practice) but "professionnels de métiers" i.e. those working in "les métiers"; and "les métiers" has no two possibles meanings on a building site.

SafeTex Sep 20, 2013:

Hello

Here are some articles with the source words.

I believe that in each case, you can see that these people are negociating at high levels. They are delegations of bosses in their sector, spokesmen and negociators, not simple 'tradesmen'

http://www.lesechos.fr/entreprises-secteurs/finance-marches/...

http://www.maghrebemergent.com/actualite/breves/fil-maghreb/...

http://www.lesoir-echos.com/societe/centres-dappels-destinat...

http://parolesdactu.canalblog.com/archives/2013/08/23/278711...

SafeTex Sep 20, 2013:

NOT tradesperon or anything similar Hello

I've lived in France for over 20 years so I'm pretty sure of this.
When the government wants to change something like the mobile network or housing laws concerning rent, they often invite 'les professionels du métier' to discuss the issue.

You get the leading figures in the sector, the top bosses, who form the delegation.

They may not have a degree in telecommunications or construction, (but probably have one from a business school)

It has almost become a synonym for 'big bosses' in the relevant sector.

Daryo Sep 20, 2013:

"les métiers" FR = "trades" EN i.e. professions requiring training and manual skills - not all manual work is considered a "trade" (simple "labourer"); can also be used figuratively to mean just any profession, but is in reality mostly limited to those needed on a building site

Walid Abdellaoui (X) Sep 20, 2013:

Je ne suis pas sûr, mais j'aurais tendance à penser que "Professionnel de métier" désigne quelqu'un qui n'a pas nécessairement de diplômes, mais a acquis ses compétences par l'éxpérience.

philgoddard Sep 20, 2013:

Marie-Helene Of course I wasn't suggesting it meant doctors and nurses.

SafeTex Sep 20, 2013:

Outsourcers, partners, consultancy agencies etc. ? Hello

I have a sneaky suspicion that it is being used to refer to outsourcers, consultants and other 'professionals' needed to work on the project.

Marie-Helene Dubois Sep 20, 2013:

I'm not sure that "skilled professionals" works in this particular context. A skilled worker can be an accountant or a software developer. I don't think that a company doing public works is likely to hire doctors and nurses and equally, I think that "métiers" in this particular context relates to "trades" as opposed to any work/job in general.

Alistair Ian Spearing Ortiz (asker) Sep 20, 2013:

Hello, Gilla and Phil. I considered "skilled professionals", but I'm not sure just how skilled they are. However, seeing at least one person endorses this interpretation makes me feel more confident about it.

philgoddard Sep 20, 2013:

I'm not sure it does mean tradespeople (not tradesmen, please!). For example, in this document, nurses and doctors are "professionels de métier":
http://gsite.univ-provence.fr/gsite/document.php?pagendx=632...
I think "skilled professionals" would be closer.

Evans (X) Sep 20, 2013:

I think, but I'm not absolutely sure, that these refer to what in the UK we would call "skilled tradesmen". A line of enquiry to pursue, at least.