In October 1968, for his extensive knowledge of the terrain, the French Government appointed him Commissioner for Industrial Conversion of the Nord Pas-de-Calais, Chairman of the Office of Departmental Industrialisation of the Bulge, and in 1973, President of the Charbonnages de France.
A member of the Economic and Social Council in early 1973, he was elected in October 1974, President of the Section of Economic problems and the general trends.
He joined the French Government in November 1979 as Minister of Labour and Public Participation.
Elected in 1983 Counsellor in Paris, Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor, he will abandon such functions as a result of his election as President of the Economic and Social Council, in April 1987, succeeding Gabriel Ventejol, he was then re-elected Chairman of the House , October 10, 1989, March 10, 1992, September 28, 1994 and March 25, 1997.
President of the National Federation of Deportees and Internés of Resistance (FNDIR) from 1987 to 1993, he became President of Honour. He took part in 1993, the establishment of the Foundation of Resistance of which he is President.
In June 1993, the Prime Minister asked him to chair a commission of experts to make proposals to the Government on the problems of employment, and in particular, the service jobs and close two reports are published in September 1993 and March 1994.
In December 1995, the Prime Minister appoints him Ombudsman in the conflict with SNCF.
By decree of President of the Republic of May 9, 1996, he was appointed member of the Conseil de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur.
In February 1997, the Prime Minister entrusted him with the task of studying the conditions under which property belonging to Jews in France were confiscated, acquired by fraud, violence or fraud, both by the occupant by the Vichy authorities, 1940 and 1944.
Jean Mattéoli was raised to the honor of Grand'Croix of the Legion of Honour in 1998. He was the holder of the War Cross and the Medal of the Resistance.
He was elected, by acclamation, Honorary President of the Economic and Social Council on September 28, 1999.