The profile of apprentices in crafts is diversifying and their number is increasing

The number of apprentices in craft businesses increased by 5% in 2022/2023 compared to the previous school year, with increasingly diverse profiles, according to a study by the Institut supérieur des métiers and Maaf published on Tuesday, September 10.

With 203.570 people last year, apprentices in crafts represent 22% of the total number of apprentices in France, and 67% of them are employed six months after their diploma.

The annual increase is mainly due to the service crafts (+9%) and manufacturing (+8%), while the workforce is down 3% in the food sector. "Heavily invested in apprenticeship, this sector may have reached a ceiling," observe the authors.

The majority of apprentices (61%) are preparing a CAP-type diploma. But the number of those preparing a higher education diploma has more than doubled (+126%) in four years - compared to +36% for all apprentices in the craft sector - and now 18% of apprentices are preparing a post-baccalaureate diploma, compared to 11% before the entry into force of the 2018 reform which expanded recruitment and means of apprenticeship.

With +9% in 2022/2023, however, the number of new apprentices in the craft sector studying in higher education has increased less than in previous years: "the training and employment potential at these levels seems on the verge of being reached" note the authors.

Apprentices in the craft sector are therefore generally older than before: 42% were under 18 in 2022/2023, compared to 47% four years earlier.

The proportion of apprentices in crafts coming from a previous job, or from looking for a job, has increased from 2% to 6% in four years, and that of apprentices with a CAP or baccalaureate level diploma who already have a baccalaureate or are even graduates of higher education has increased from 9% to 14%.

Finally, we observe an increase in the number of apprentices, in all sectors: apprentice pastry chefs have thus increased from 44% of the workforce to 53% in four years, and dental technicians from 49% to 61%.

With the "new wealth" brought by "this diversity", "apprenticeship in the craft industry retains a central place in the training and employment of young people" observes Antoine Ermeneux, general director of MAAF.

The study comes as a spending review by the French Inspectorate General of Finance suggests reducing public support for apprenticeships, particularly at the highest levels of qualifications, which are less concerned with crafts.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.