France’s Labour Ministry has unveiled an €80 million initiative designed to assist workers, jobseekers, and businesses in adapting to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). This move aims to enhance competitiveness with other European economies.
The 12-point programme, announced on 23rd September 2026, prioritises training, business support, social dialogue, and improved working conditions, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and apprentices. The ministry expressed concerns that French firms are lagging in AI adoption, risking the emergence of inequalities between larger companies that can invest in AI technology and smaller counterparts that may struggle to keep pace.
According to national statistics agency INSEE, only 18% of French businesses had implemented AI-related technologies by 2025, significantly lower than in the region’s leading economies. This plan comes as the Labour Ministry seeks to find €2.5 billion in budget savings by 2027, identifying measures that promise the best return on investment while establishing frameworks that can be widely adopted.
The majority of the measures focus on familiarising workers with AI and assessing its potential impacts on their jobs. A new online platform called Explore AI will be launched, allowing users to test their knowledge and engage in interactive learning. Pix, the French digital skills service, will also enhance AI courses for school pupils and create a separate platform for apprentices in CFA training centres. Additional funding will support CFA centres that offer training in key areas like cybersecurity to accelerate AI uptake.
Jobseekers can access an AI readiness assessment through the France Travail employment agency, which will lead to tailored training pathways based on their results.
The government is also prioritising AI within France’s Personal Training Account (CPF), which helps workers accrue financial credits for training. Increased co-funding is expected to reduce personal costs for AI-related courses. Task forces will assist SMEs in understanding how AI can enhance workplace practices, including recruitment, while supporting professional sectors in discussing AI’s implications for jobs and working conditions.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to encourage widespread AI adoption among companies and employees while striving to prevent deepening existing inequalities in the workforce.
