Looking for a company for your work-study programme and not sure where to start? Between the huge campaigns of large groups, sectors short of staff and SMEs that hire without posting ads, here is a clear map of the 2026 market, with verified figures and a method for targeting your applications.
In short: in 2026, the biggest recruiters of work-study students are still the large groups (EDF announces 5,000 work-study students, La Poste 3,700 contracts, Air France more than 800 positions, SNCF Réseau more than 2,000 work-study students for 2026-2027), driven by the 5% work-study quota for companies with 250 or more employees. In terms of sectors, health, hotels and restaurants, retail, industry, construction and digital account for most of the needs. But don't overlook SMEs: they sign a large share of contracts and receive the highest hiring subsidies.
To see the employers currently posting offers, browse our directory of companies hiring work-study students, built from live job offers.
How many work-study students are hired in France in 2026?
The market remains huge, even though it has slowed. According to Dares' first estimates (February 2026), 846,700 apprenticeship contracts started in 2025 in the private and public sectors, about 5% fewer than in 2024 (889,400 contracts). Just over one million contracts were ongoing at the end of 2025.
For 2026, the signals are mixed:
- Nationally, the first data published by Dares show an increase in apprenticeship starts for CAP and bac pro courses, but a sharp drop in higher education (BTS, bachelor's, master's), after the revision of hiring subsidies that took effect on 8 March 2026.
- In services, Akto, the skills operator for labour-intensive service sectors (notably hotels and restaurants), recorded +4% work-study contracts from January to the end of May 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, after a year of stagnation in 2025 within its scope.
In other words: there are fewer contracts than at the 2024 peak, but still hundreds of thousands of places, and secondary-level profiles are doing better. To understand what has changed for employers, read our article on apprentice hiring subsidies in 2026.
Which large companies are hiring apprentices in 2026?
Several large groups have announced large-scale campaigns for 2026-2027. Here are the volumes communicated by the companies themselves:
| Company | Announced volume | Jobs and levels |
|---|---|---|
| EDF | 5,000 work-study students in 2026 | 230 jobs (technical, sales, digital, support functions), from CAP to bac+5 |
| La Poste | 3,700 work-study contracts in 2026 | Mail and parcels, logistics, financial services, digital, support functions, from CAP to bac+5 |
| Air France | More than 800 positions for 2026 | Aircraft maintenance, engineering, IT, HR, finance, marketing, supply chain; contracts of 12 to 36 months |
| SNCF Réseau | More than 2,000 work-study students for 2026-2027 | Rail network jobs |
| Carrefour | National campaign launched in mid-March 2026 (no overall volume announced) | More than 300 jobs, from retail to data, in stores, warehouses or head office, from CAP to bac+5 |
These figures are targets announced at the start of the campaigns: some positions are filled as they go, but hiring often continues into the autumn and new offers are posted regularly. Other major employers (Airbus, L'Oréal, the big banks and insurance companies, large retail groups…) also publish work-study offers every year on their careers sites.
To see which companies are posting the most offers right now, check our ranking of companies hiring work-study students, updated every day.
Why do large companies hire so many work-study students?
You might think that lower subsidies would hold large groups back. Yet they still have strong reasons to hire, for four reasons:
- The 5% quota. A company with at least 250 employees that has less than 5% work-study students (and similar contracts) in its workforce must pay the additional apprenticeship contribution (CSA). The details are in our article on the 5% work-study quota in large companies.
- Subsidies conditional on the quota. For an apprenticeship contract concluded since 8 March 2026, a company with 250 or more employees can receive €2,000 (diploma up to bac level), €1,500 (bac+2) or €750 (bac+3 to bac+5) for the first year, provided it reaches the 5% work-study threshold or makes progress towards it.
- A pool of future employees. EDF, for example, states that 60% of its young graduate hires come from work-study and internships.
- Renewing technical skills. In energy, rail or aeronautics, training in-house is often the safest way to secure qualified technicians.
"A sector that struggles to recruit is a sector that has every reason to train: that is where work-study opens the most doors."
Which sectors hire the most work-study students in 2026?
France Travail's 2026 Labour Needs survey (BMO) lists around 2.3 million hiring plans (−6.5% year on year), of which 43.8% are considered difficult. These figures cover all contracts, not just work-study, but they show where employers lack candidates, and therefore where they have the most interest in training work-study students.
| Sector | 2026 hiring plans (BMO) | Share considered difficult | Examples of work-study jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and social care | 322,000 | 54% | Care assistant, social and educational support worker, pharmacy technician |
| Hotels and restaurants | 319,000 | 44% | Cook, waiter, receptionist |
| Retail | 264,000 | 36% | Sales assistant, retail employee, department manager |
| Industry | 211,000 | 48% | Maintenance technician, electrical technician, welder |
| Construction | 143,000 | 65% | Electrician, plumber-heating engineer, bricklayer |
| Digital | About 84,000 | 49.5% | Developer, systems and network administrator, data analyst |
To track, month by month, how many work-study offers are actually published, by region, occupation and qualification level, see our monthly work-study barometer.
Why do health, social care and services hire so much?
An ageing population increases the need for care and support, while candidates are in short supply. These jobs are largely learned on the ground, which makes them natural fields for work-study. See our feature on work-study in health and paramedical careers.
Why are industry, energy and construction short of staff?
Retirements, the energy renovation of buildings, the modernisation of electricity grids: the need for technicians far exceeds the number of graduates. With 65% of hiring plans considered difficult, construction holds the record in the 2026 BMO survey. See our guides to work-study in construction, work-study in industry and metalworking and green jobs.
Retail, hotels and restaurants, transport: accessible volumes from CAP level
These sectors combine large volumes with high staff turnover. They hire a lot at CAP, bac pro and BTS level, with large networks (La Poste, Carrefour…) as well as independents. Read: work-study in retail and sales, hotels and restaurants and transport and logistics.
Digital and data: strong demand, but fierce competition
Software development, cybersecurity, data and AI remain in high demand, but these programmes are mostly at bac+3 to bac+5 level, the segment where starts fell the most in early 2026. You therefore need a solid application (projects, portfolio). See our guide to work-study in cybersecurity.
What about the public sector?
The State, local authorities and hospitals also hire apprentices, in administration, digital, early childhood or green spaces. How it works is explained in our article on work-study in the civil service.
Large groups or SMEs: where are your chances best?
Large groups' campaigns are the most visible, but they attract thousands of applications. Yet most contracts are signed elsewhere: according to Dares, 44% of apprenticeship contracts started in 2024 were in structures with fewer than 10 employees.
Small companies also have a financial argument: for an apprenticeship contract concluded since 8 March 2026, first-year subsidies are higher below the 250-employee threshold.
| Diploma being prepared | Company with fewer than 250 employees | 250 employees or more |
|---|---|---|
| Up to bac level (CAP, bac pro, BP…) | €5,000 | €2,000 |
| Bac+2 (BTS…) | €4,500 | €1,500 |
| Bac+3 to bac+5 | €2,000 | €750 |
| Apprentice recognised as a disabled worker | up to €6,000 | up to €6,000 |
The choice mainly depends on your profile and what you expect from your work-study:
| Type of employer | Strengths | Points to watch | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large group | Volume of offers, structured programmes, trained tutors, a strong name on your CV | Fierce competition, long processes, sometimes very tightly defined tasks | Careers sites, alerts, applying early in the campaign |
| Mid-sized company / SME | Versatility, quick responsibility, direct contact with management | Fewer published offers, sensitivity to cost | Targeted speculative applications, local network, CFA |
| Very small business / craftsperson | Passing on of know-how, high likelihood of being hired | Supervision depends on a single person | Direct contact, chambers of trades, word of mouth |
| Public sector | Stability, public-interest missions | Administrative calendars, few offers in some jobs | Offers published by public employers, CFA |
To compare pay, tasks and supervision in more detail, read our guide on work-study in a large company or an SME.
Which sector should you target based on your profile?
| Your profile | Sectors and employers to target | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| CAP / bac pro | Construction, industry, hotels and restaurants, retail, transport and logistics, personal care | The segment growing in 2026: also target craftspeople and SMEs, which receive up to €5,000 in subsidies |
| Bac+2 (BTS…) | Industrial maintenance, retail, banking and insurance, logistics, IT support | Highlight the technical skills that are directly useful for the job |
| Bac+3 to bac+5 | Digital and data, engineering, energy, support functions in large groups | Stronger competition: portfolio, concrete projects and highly targeted applications |
| 26 and over / career change | Shortage occupations (construction, health, industry, transport) | Your minimum salary is 100% of the SMIC: show what your experience brings |
To find the jobs that match your training, browse our directory of work-study jobs.
Where can you find offers from companies that are hiring?
Use several channels, because no platform centralises all offers:
- Online offers: filter by job and city in our work-study job search engine, and set up alerts.
- La Bonne Alternance: the public platform lists offers and companies likely to hire, useful for speculative applications.
- Large groups' careers sites: "work-study" or "young talent" sections, where campaigns often open at the start of the year.
- Job datings and fairs: France Travail, CFAs and chambers of commerce and trades hold events throughout the year. Get ready with our article on work-study job datings.
- Your CFA: its business relations department receives offers that are not always published elsewhere.
- Speculative applications: essential for SMEs, which often hire without advertising. Follow our guide to speculative applications for work-study.
How should you adapt your pitch to the target company?
With lower subsidies for bac+2 and above, the argument "I cost you almost nothing" is no longer enough. Present yourself as the answer to a concrete need.
With a large group
Show that you know its jobs and its challenges. At EDF, talk about the energy transition and the skills from your training that address it; at La Poste or Carrefour, talk about logistics, customer relations or data. Follow the process scrupulously (form, tests, interviews) and apply early.
With an SME or a very small business
Be concrete and operational. Don't say: "I would like to learn marketing in your company." Say: "I already master Canva and Google Ads and can take charge of your posts from the first month." Show that you know your training schedule and that you will be available at the right time.
On the question of cost
If the employer hesitates, have the figures in mind: an apprentice's minimum salary depends on age and contract year, and you can estimate it with our pay simulator. Also point out that a company with fewer than 250 employees can receive a subsidy in the first year.
Is there still time to find a company?
Yes. Companies hire work-study students all year round and many contracts start between September and December. In an apprenticeship, you can even start your training at the CFA without an employer and have 3 months to sign your contract: everything is explained in our article on starting your work-study without a company.
Checklist to land your contract in 2026
- Choose 2 or 3 shortage sectors that match your training.
- List 10 to 15 target companies: a few large groups and above all SMEs close to home or to your CFA.
- Set up alerts for work-study offers and careers sites.
- Tailor your CV to each offer (see our tips for a work-study CV).
- Send speculative applications to SMEs that haven't posted anything.
- Prepare an "added value" pitch: what you bring from the first month.
- Follow up 7 to 10 days after applying, even after a rejection (see our guide to follow-up emails).
The 2026 work-study market requires more strategy than at the 2024 peak, but opportunities remain plentiful. By combining large groups and SMEs, shortage sectors and targeted applications, you give yourself every chance of signing your contract.