Incentives for apprenticeships: which are the most common ones?

Incentives for apprenticeships: which are the most common ones?

In October 2025, Cedefop published the report “Apprenticeships: incentives for employers and learners”. In this publication, members of the Cedefop community of apprenticeship experts (more information available here) shed light on selected incentives that are in place in their respective countries. This publication is not a full account of all instruments in place; instead, Community members focussed on one or more significant incentives taking into account the national context.

The report makes the following observations: 

• Incentives for employers are more common than those for learners.
• Grants and subsidies are the dominant incentives for employers.
• Most countries deploy a combination of instruments.
• Horizontal incentives, incentives available for any company participating in apprenticeships, irrespective of sector, size, region or group of learners trained, are more common than targeted ones for specific sectors, regions or apprentice groups.
• Non-financial incentives, and understanding the real value of apprenticeships matter in the long run. For companies already participating in apprenticeships, the regulatory framework, support from schools, and sustainable financial incentives like tax exemptions matter more than receiving grants and subsidies.

CEDEFOP report “Apprenticeships: incentives for employers and learners” available here.