Apprenticeships: Regions denounce the announced elimination of their funding for apprenticeship training centers in 2027

Regions of France is contesting the government's decision not to renew in 2027 the contractual funding that allows local authorities to support apprenticeship training centers. The government assures that a new fund will support struggling apprenticeship training centers, but its resources and procedures remain to be defined.

The announced elimination of state funding to regions to support apprenticeship training centers (CFA) has sparked outrage among regional authorities. Regions of France denounces this as a further step in the "recentralization" of apprenticeship policy and warns of the potential consequences for the most vulnerable institutions and training programs.

François Bonneau, the socialist president of the Centre-Val de Loire region and in charge of education and training issues within Regions of France, claims to have been informed in July that this allocation would be reduced to zero in the draft budget for 2027.

Funds used to support struggling vocational training centers

The regions were using this funding to support the modernization of apprenticeship training centers, to finance certain investments or to contribute to maintaining apprenticeship sections in less populated areas, where the number of apprentices does not always allow for financial equilibrium.

“We are going to see the complete elimination of all the resources we had at our disposal” to intervene in these areas, declared François Bonneau. For the president of the Centre-Val de Loire region, this decision constitutes an “aberrant” response to the savings sought by the government.

Valérie Debord, vice-president of the Grand Est region, speaks of "abandonment." Regional representatives fear, in particular, that vocational training centers (CFA) located in rural areas or offering training for rare and in-demand professions will be the first to be affected.

The Ministry of Labour confirms the end of contractual agreements.

The Ministry of Labour confirmed that the ongoing contracts would be carried out until their completion, but that no renewal of the scheme was planned for 2027.

The government, however, rejects the idea of a complete withdrawal of funding for apprenticeship training centers (CFA). It announces the creation of a fund to support institutions likely to encounter financial difficulties. According to the ministry, the regions will be involved in the operation of this new mechanism.

At this stage, the amount of this fund, its intervention criteria, its timetable and the terms of participation of local authorities have not been specified in the information provided.

A budget already significantly reduced in 2026

The decision comes after a sharp reduction in funding allocated to the regions. Funding for the operation and investment of apprenticeship training centers (CFA) still amounted to €268 million in 2025.

For 2026, an initial allocation of €134 million was announced, representing a 50% reduction. This was subsequently reduced to €33 million before the summer: €11 million for the operation of the CFAs and €22 million for their investments.

Between 2025 and 2026, funding allocated to regions decreased by nearly 88%. Regions of France had already denounced this reduction, arguing that it severely limited the ability of local authorities to support investment projects and training programs with fragile economic models.

Other apprenticeship funding announced as being maintained

The government distinguishes this regional allocation from other apprenticeship funding mechanisms. At the end of July, Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou asserted that he had secured the stabilization of business subsidies and training costs in the upcoming budget.

The Minister Delegate for Vocational Training, Sabrina Roubache, also affirmed that "apprenticeship funding has been protected," while calling on companies to continue recruiting apprentices.

She nevertheless advocated for a reduction in the system's dependence on public aid, arguing that "the 'all public money', the permanent life support, cannot continue."

The government maintains that eliminating regional funding does not mean the end of apprenticeship support. However, it does alter the distribution of responsibilities and deprives regions of a tool that allows them to directly target the needs of specific institutions or areas.

A reform still pending the 2027 budget.

The cessation of contractual agreements is announced as part of the preparation of the 2027 budget. Its final implementation will therefore depend on the budgetary texts, their examination by Parliament and the provisions that will organize the future support fund.

The debate should focus in particular on the fund's capacity to replace regional interventions. For apprenticeship training centers (CFA), visibility on available funding will be crucial for maintaining training programs, planning investments, and preparing for the upcoming academic year.