The integration of vocational high school students and apprentices is slightly down

In July 2025, two years after leaving their studies, the professional integration of apprentices and high school students at CAP to BTS level shows a slight decline compared to the previous generation, according to Depp-Dares studies published a few days ago.

"This development is taking place within a context of slowing youth employment," note the authors of the information notes conducted by the statistical services of the Ministries of Education and Labour.

In July 2025, two years after leaving their studies, 59% of vocational high school students and students at CAP to BTS level, a bac+2 level diploma, have a salaried job (51% of which are in the private sector), down 2,3 points compared to 2022 graduates.

However, it remains significantly higher than that measured six months after leaving studies, with a difference of 13,6 points.

The share of permanent contracts (CDI or civil servant status) is also declining, to 27% in 2025, down 1,7 points compared to 2022.

The specialties offering the best opportunities are "community services" (security, cleaning), with an employment rate of 67%, as well as "transport, handling, warehousing" (65%).

Employment rates vary according to the level of qualification: among vocational high school graduates in 2023, 41% of those with a CAP (vocational certificate) are employed, compared to 57% of vocational baccalaureate holders and 70% of BTS (advanced vocational diploma) graduates.

As for apprentices, the salaried employment rate in July 2025 is almost stable at 73% (68% of which is in the private sector), down 0,4 points compared to 2022.

In detail, the employment rate two years after graduation falls slightly after a CAP and a vocational diploma (-1,1 points), remains stable after a vocational baccalaureate (+0,0 points) and increases slightly after a BTS (+1,1 points).

The employment rate is higher for graduates of production-related training (77%) than for those from service-related training (70%).

Although the rate of apprentices in permanent salaried employment two years after graduation is almost twice as high as for former vocational high school students (48%), it also shows a slight decrease (-1,3 points) compared to the previous generation.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.