Apprenticeship numbers decline in France amid budget cuts

Apprenticeship numbers in France are experiencing a significant decline due to economic pressures and government budget reductions. The number of active apprenticeship contracts has dropped from over one million in the previous year to fewer than 850,000 in 2025, with even more discouraging trends projected for 2026.

Public sector participation remains notably low. While the public service accounts for one in five jobs, it hosts only about 3.1% of all apprentices. New contracts within the state, local authorities, and hospitals fell by 11.5% last year. Funding constraints have forced local public employers to limit recruitment to specific priority roles and specific student levels.

Baptiste Martin, president of the Association nationale des apprentis de France (ANAF), suggests that the state has begun viewing apprenticeship programs primarily as a cost to be managed rather than an investment in youth employment and corporate skills. This shift follows a period of high performance driven by the 2018 law on professional choice, but recent reforms and fiscal tightening are making the system less attractive to employers.