Apprenticeships at risk: 65,000 places under threat

A shock figure that has landed like a bomb. According to a report from INSEE, the national statistics institute, France could lose 65,000 apprenticeship places by the end of the year. The cause? Falling public support and reforms that change the rules of the game.

INSEE's red alert: the end of the golden age?

Until now, apprenticeships were booming. Since 2017 the number of contracts has tripled, passing 870,000 in 2024. A genuine success story. But the party looks to be over.

INSEE confirms it: the effects of budget cuts and new rules are going to hit hard.

While salaried employment kept growing in the first half of the year, apprenticeships held out. But it's a matter of months. The statistics institute is categorical: the number of apprentices will collapse by the end of the year. A blow that could shake the whole labour market.

What changed (and lit the fuse)

Several reforms, which came into force in July, aim to overhaul the apprenticeship system. But for companies and would-be apprentices, these changes are anything but a gift.

Compulsory employer contribution: if you're aiming for a degree-level qualification or above, your employer will have to pay €750 towards your training. An extra cost on the bill, which could put some hiring on hold.

Hiring subsidies in free fall: the exceptional grants created during the pandemic are being cut back. From €6,000, they can now fall to €2,000 for large companies. A shortfall that weighs heavily on recruiters' budgets.

End of payroll exemptions: an apprentice's salary used to be almost entirely exempt. Not any more. Part of the pay is now subject to employee contributions and social levies. The cost of an apprentice goes up — it's simple arithmetic.

The knock-on effects

This drop in contracts doesn't happen in isolation. According to INSEE, the fall in private sector employment is partly explained by this apprenticeship crisis.

Faced with scarce places, many students could choose to stay in full-time education rather than entering the labour market. Enough to stall the working population and, in time, push unemployment up to 7.6% by the end of 2025.

In short, a whole system is shaking on its foundations.

For companies, it has never been more important to plan ahead and understand these new rules. You need to be ready to adjust your budget and your practices to keep recruiting apprentices.

For young people, competition is going to be fierce. The quality of your CV and your application will matter more than ever if you want to land the job you're after.

A model worth protecting

Apprenticeships are an engine of employment in France. Letting them run out of steam could have consequences far more serious than the simple loss of 65,000 places. The stakes are high.