Apprenticeships: aid reserved for companies with fewer than 250 employees remains unchanged until a budget is voted on

"Aid for employers hiring apprentices will, from January 1, 2026, only be provided within the legal framework set by the Labor Code," a statement from the Ministry of Labor indicated.

Thus, "the aid will be reserved for companies with fewer than 250 employees for hiring an apprentice" preparing for a diploma equivalent to or below the Baccalaureate (CAP, BEP, Brevet professionnel or certain certificates).

The amount of this aid will remain at "5.000 euros for the first year of the contract only", the same source specifies.

"The amount of aid will remain at 6.000 euros for hiring apprentices with disabilities and this support will remain cumulative with specific aid," the ministry adds.

"A decree will be issued as soon as the finance law for 2026 is adopted," the ministry reminds us, but "the new parameters of the aid (will be determined) according to the credits voted" and "will not be retroactive."

Against a backdrop of reduced public funding, apprenticeship contracts fell sharply in the third quarter, with a decrease of 4,6%, representing 49.200 fewer jobs, and a year-on-year decrease of 2,5%. However, they remained "significantly higher than their level at the end of 2019 (+58%)," according to INSEE data published at the end of November.

Due to the decline in apprenticeships, private sector salaried employment fell for 15-29 year olds (-0,7%), according to the statistics institute.

In 2025, the aid for hiring an apprentice, previously 6.000 euros, was reduced to 5.000 for SMEs with fewer than 250 employees and to 2.000 euros for larger companies.

Taking advantage of public aid, the number of apprentices in France had increased from 430.000 in 2017 to more than one million in 2023, while apprenticeships have massively opened up to higher education students and the service sector.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.