Apprenticeships: why is the government reducing the recruitment bonus to €6,000?

The exceptional recruitment bonus for work-study apprenticeships or professionalisation contracts implemented in the summer of 2020, as the Covid epidemic raises fears of a tsunami for youth employment, is on its last days. from 1^er In January 2023, it will be replaced by the general legal aid, which will be reduced to 6,000 euros, regardless of the company’s workforce, the young person’s age or the degree obtained, compared to the current 5,000 euros for minors or 8,000 euros for adults.

Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt emphasized this Thursday during a visit to the Maleville enterprises, born in 1880 in the 7th arrondissement of Paris (70 workers, including 5 apprentices): “It remains quite massive. “Strong support measure,” added Ministerial Representative for Vocational Education and Training Carole Grandjean.

800,000 mark

Why 6000 euros? In addition to its simplicity, the amount is intended to rebalance learning in favor of the first qualification levels. Since the 2018 reform, which completely liberalized the system, the number of new apprenticeship contracts has increased. Olivier Dussopt confirmed that it went from 300,000 to 730,000 in 2021 and that the 800,000 mark will be passed this year.

But this growth was largely due to higher education diplomas, even as bachelor and infra levels, which had fallen behind when education was in the hands of the regions, began to advance.

Triple purpose

By raising the award to 6,000 euros, the government has a threefold goal. First, it provides an additional boost of €1,000 in this case for the recruitment of minors and therefore for the first qualification levels. By lowering the qualification to 2000 euros, on the other hand, BTS discourages the desire for diplomas or more. All this, thirdly, by reducing the bill for public finance. “The current amount of the bonus was not sustainable,” says Olivier Dussopt, for whom “the new amount” remains too much of an incentive for adults and even more so for younger students.”

Very important point, the award of 6,000 euros becomes a unique common law aid. Obviously, it will be paid for the first year of the contract. Therefore, nothing will be left for the second and third year, as was the case with the single aid before COVID-19 (2,000 and 1,200 euros respectively). The fate of the special contribution to education of companies with more than 250 employees still employs less than 5% of students in business education.

U2P applauds

The official press release refers to all contracts signed until December 31, 2023, but at this stage the Ministry of Labor is confident that the measure will be permanent. Especially since Elisabeth Borne set a target of 1 million contracts signed per year by then.

U2P, one of the main employers of apprentices, welcomed the announcement. “The decision eliminates the risk of an abrupt halt to the development of work-study programs by supporting the first levels of training that need more,” said the president of this employers’ organization representing artisans, tradesmen and the liberal professions. , Dominic Metayer.

Extraordinary effects

The general manager of Maleville carpentry won’t turn down the bonus. However, he assures us that he can do it anyway. Pointing to the many unintended effects – those affecting these employers without playing the apprenticeship game – he assures us that his number one challenge is still finding young people ready to enter the trade.

It’s important to help businesses, and it’s important to help apprentices, Anaf National Apprentices Association responded. “The situation of many of them is complicated […] In order to reach the target of 1 million, the government must look for disadvantaged young people, where apprenticeships are a real integration solution”, pleaded its president, Aurélien Cadiou.