By eliminating apprenticeship subsidies, France risks further exacerbating the shortage of engineers

While France already lacks nearly 20.000 engineers per year and 85% of engineering companies report recruitment difficulties, the more than 50% reduction in aid for hiring apprentices in bachelor's, master's and engineering degrees weakens a system that has proven itself in responding to tensions related to hiring new talent.

The anticipated savings of €200 million in 2026 and €700 million in 2027 come at a time when the need for engineers could grow by 30% in construction and 24% in industry by 2030, while training capacity is projected to increase by only 10,7% at best. For Syntec-Ingénierie, this growing gap between the supply and demand for talent poses a structural risk to competitiveness and the success of the ecological and digital transitions.

A reduction in aid that weakens apprenticeships

Recent government decisions have reduced the hiring incentive for apprentices pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or engineering degree to €2.000 for companies with fewer than 250 employees and €750 for larger companies, representing a decrease of more than half. This measure comes at a time when apprenticeships are an effective way to diversify the social backgrounds and profiles of future engineers and technicians and ensure the rapid integration of young people into the key engineering sector. Syntec-Ingénierie believes that reducing this incentive sends a worrying signal about the attractiveness of scientific and technical careers.

A persistent shortage of engineers

France had over 1.000.000[1] engineers in operation in 2024, compared to 47.400 graduates[2], while Syntec-Ingénierie had estimated a shortage of 20.000 engineers in recent years. This structural situation directly threatens companies' ability to innovate and support technological and environmental transitions.

Diversity and attractiveness: a major challenge

The deficit isn't limited to numbers. The representation of women in engineering schools has stagnated, remaining below 30%. On Parcoursup, science programs attract over 40% of male applicants, but only 17% of female applicants. Bias in academic guidance and the overrepresentation of students from privileged backgrounds in traditional pathways to these programs also limit the talent pool and threaten diversity within student cohorts.

Syntec-Ingénierie calls for action

On the occasion of the National Engineering Days, Syntec-Ingénierie calls for securing apprenticeship support mechanisms, strengthening the attractiveness of scientific fields, particularly for young women, and initiating a structured dialogue between the State, schools and businesses to anticipate skills needs by 2030. Investing in engineering talent is not an expense: it is an essential condition for ensuring France's competitiveness and technological sovereignty.

For Michel Kahan, president of Syntec-Ingénierie: “The shortage of engineers is a tangible reality for our companies. We are facing a structural talent deficit that directly undermines our ability to innovate, decarbonize our activities, and lead the country's major transformation projects. To restore the role of scientific and technical professions as a vehicle for social mobility, we must collectively strengthen the attractiveness of scientific and technical fields, broaden the talent pool, particularly for women, and better anticipate skills needs by 2030. We are at a critical juncture.”

[1] Source: IESF

[2] Source: CDEFI

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.