The youth plan "begins to bear fruit" according to the government

Over the months of August and September, there were 696.000 hires of young people under 26 on contracts of at least three months against 686.000 last year, ie "an increase of 1,3%", a told the Ministry of Labor to reporters.

The increase was stronger in August - 9% -, probably due to a catching-up effect after deconfinement.

But in September, the level is "comparable to that of a year ago", underlines the ministry while "that one feared a collapse of the recruitments".

The youth plan establishes assistance for any young person under 26 recruited between August and January on a CDD of at least three months or a CDI for a remuneration less than or equal to twice the minimum wage. It is 1.000 euros each quarter for a maximum of one year.

The ministry could not give the average duration of contracts but "there is an incentive to retain the young" with the quarterly payment, it is estimated.

Regarding apprenticeship, there are currently "314.000 contracts signed" and the ministry believes that last year's level of 368.000 contracts could be reached by the end of the year (then a record increase of 16%).

Companies can benefit from aid of 5.000 euros to recruit an apprentice under 18 or 8.000 euros for a major by the end of February. Or almost zero cost up to 21 years.

The ministry sees it as a sign that "the aid is known" and considers "very likely that they participate in this relatively good performance of recruitments".

Regarding support contracts for the integration of young people furthest from employment, the feedback is also in line with the objectives, with the exception of the Youth Guarantee.

This device piloted by the local missions, which is based in particular on collective workshops, is more complicated to implement with the current sanitary conditions, it was explained.