An explosion of work-study contracts
Between 2017 and 2021, the name of apprenticeship contracts signs annually more than doubled, from 305,000 to 736,000. This development was accompanied by a significant increase in contract signatures in higher education. These latter now represent 60% of contracts signedcompared to 38% before the reform. This development has also resulted in a diversification of certifications, with the arrival of new CFAs and an explosion of training certified by professional titles outside of traditional diplomas (such as titles from the ministry responsible for employment, diplomas from the CNAM, those of the grandes écoles and titles registered with the RNCP).
Companies mobilized for learning
Furthermore, the number of companies engaged in apprenticeships has doubled in four years, reaching 387,000 in 2021. If small businesses (VSE-SME) remain the main employers of apprentices with 7 apprenticeship contracts signed out of 10, large groups and mid-sized companies (ETI) are becoming increasingly involved in the training of young apprentices, particularly to meet their skills needs.
On the side of sectorsthese are the commercetransport,hotel and catering industrythe construction and theindustry which, unsurprisingly, dominate the learning landscape.
Find out which companies are recruiting on a work-study basis!
Better trained apprentices
Another observation. Young people who opt for apprenticeship are more and more qualified. The proportion of higher education graduates pursuing this path has significantly increased, as has that of baccalaureate graduates entering higher education. Apprenticeship also attracts new profiles, attracted by professional retraining opportunities or better-defined career prospects.
For young people, apprenticeship is seen as a concrete and secure path. A way to test a professional projectbut also to benefit from a remuneration and coverage of training costs. Enough to offer them a certain financial autonomy. Despite these advantages, inequalities remain: additional costs, complexity of the training offer and theunequal access to the professional network remain obstacles for some.
An appointment not to be missed
To find your future work-study training and land a contract with a company, come to our Studyrama Sup’Alternance and Apprentissage trade fairs organized throughout France. A unique opportunity to discover establishments in all sectors, exchange with companies and work-study specialists!
A success of the work-study program which is accompanied by tensions and challenges
If the 2018 reform allowed for a massification of apprenticeship, it also generated tensions for CFAs and businesses. CFAs face increased competition, often dictated by the expectations of companies which require flexibility and alignment with their specific needs (and which can sometimes undermine the educational dimension of learning).
Young people, for their part, face risks linked to poorly adapted orientation or to a offer too heterogeneous. The increase in breach of contract in higher education and apprentice selection practices also raise questions. Finally, recently created certifications raise questions about their value on the job market. In a tense economic context, new adaptations will undoubtedly be necessary to perpetuate this model and make it a sustainable lever for training and professional integration.
©gorodenkoff
