Afpa: Up to 867 job cuts and 30 centers threatened, according to unions

The proposed reorganization of the National Agency for Adult Vocational Training includes up to 867 job cuts, alongside 400 new positions, as well as a major restructuring of its real estate portfolio. The CGT, FO, and Sud unions are contesting this plan, which was presented after a sharp decline in activity between 2021 and 2025.

The National Agency for Adult Vocational Training (Afpa) is planning a new restructuring of its activities, staff, and regional presence. Presented on Tuesday, September 15th, to the board of directors of the public institution, meeting in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, the plan includes up to 867 job cuts and the creation of 400 new positions.

Thirty training centers out of the 142 sites considered in the management document could also close, according to the unions. The project remains subject to the information and consultation process at this stage, and its final details are not yet known.

The main figures of the project

Up to 867 job cuts for an organization employing approximately 5.700 employees

400 new positions are also planned as part of the reorganization

30 centers are threatened with closure out of the 142 sites listed in the document presented to the board of directors.

68 sites that could be sold in whole or in part

180 million euros of financial commitment planned from the State

Activity has declined sharply since 2021

The management justifies the plan by citing the deterioration of the institution's activity and financial situation. Between 2021 and 2025, Afpa's revenue is expected to decline by 25% and the number of trainees by 39%.

The organization's 2025 activity report indicates a turnover of €511 million and 60.800 trainees trained. It presents 2026 as the beginning of a "strategic shift" aimed at adapting Afpa's economic model and restoring financial stability by 2029.

Management believes the agency remains heavily reliant on public procurement, which no longer adequately reflects the realities of the training market. It also considers its "production capacity to be oversized."

According to the document presented to the board of directors and obtained by AFP, 72 out of 142 centers are reportedly experiencing financial difficulties. Real estate costs are absorbing 26% of the establishment's revenue, primarily due to the poor condition of some of its properties.

Closures, rentals and consolidations of centers

The reorganization involves a significant change to the territorial network. In addition to the 30 centers likely to close, 13 new sites would be opened in rented buildings.

Four large-scale consolidation projects are also planned in Rennes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Marseille. Their locations, timelines, and precise impact on training activities are not detailed in the available information.

In total, 68 sites could be sold off in whole or in part. A partial sale does not necessarily mean the closure of the center in question: it may involve a portion of the land or buildings that have become unused. However, the complete list of assets concerned has not been made public.

The state would provide financial support of 180 million euros. This sum would be repaid over a long period using proceeds from property sales, according to the plan presented to the board of directors.

The net job losses still need to be specified.

The project combines up to 867 job cuts with 400 new positions. A simple subtraction would show a theoretical maximum net loss of 467 jobs, but this calculation does not predict the final social impact.

The jobs created may indeed correspond to different professions, skills, or geographical locations than the positions eliminated. The available information does not further specify the proportion of voluntary departures, internal transfers, reassignments, or layoffs that may occur.

A key issue for training in construction and public works professions

The reorganization of Afpa directly affects the building and public works sectors. In its 2025 activity report, the institution indicates that construction and public works represents 37% of the sectoral distribution of its training programs, ahead of industry, which represents 14%.

The reduction or consolidation of certain centers could therefore have consequences for the proximity of technical facilities and access to skills training in the regions. The extent of this impact will, however, depend on the list of sites concerned, the training programs relocated or maintained, and the capacity planned for the new locations.

Founded in 1949, Afpa trains employees, job seekers, young people in apprenticeship programs, and individuals undergoing career transitions. Its activity report lists, in particular, 2.100 trainers, 5.060 apprentices enrolled in its apprenticeship training center, and 2.146 apprentices on professional training contracts in 2025.

The CGT, FO and Sud reject the project

The CGT, FO, and Sud unions announced their opposition in a joint statement. They believe that the political response to the institution's difficulties "cannot be to consider the Afpa as a cost to be reduced."

“Training is an investment in the future, for individuals and for the country,” the three organizations assert. According to them, “reducing staff numbers may lower costs in the short term, but it also reduces Afpa’s capacity to carry out its missions, which are to welcome, support, and train the public.”

The unions are particularly concerned about a reduction in training opportunities and the increased distance between training providers and services for some trainees. Their opposition comes after a previous restructuring initiated in 2018, which had already resulted in a significant reduction in staff.