According to reports from union representatives who attended a board meeting on Tuesday, September 14, the National Agency for Adult Professional Training (Afpa) is planning to eliminate up to 867 positions and close 30 vocational training centers. This reorganization comes amid a significant decline in the agency's financial performance, with a 25% drop in revenue and a 39% decrease in the number of trainees between 2021 and 2025. The management's plan also includes the creation of 400 new positions and the opening of 13 new rented sites, while proposing to consolidate operations in four major cities—Rennes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Marseille. Additionally, 68 of the agency’s existing sites would be fully or partially sold. The Afpa, which has already faced reductions in size in previous years, including a major restructuring in 2018, is described in a board meeting document as being "strongly dependent on public orders," which are not aligned with the current market realities. The document highlighted that 72 out of 142 training centers are in financial difficulty, and 26% of the agency’s revenue is consumed by "real estate costs," largely due to the poor condition of its facilities. To support the reorganization, the French government has pledged 180 million euros, with repayment expected to come from the proceeds of the real estate sales. The CGT, FO, and Sud unions, which represent thousands of workers, have rejected the proposed plan in a joint statement. They argue that the government should not treat Afpa as a cost to be cut, but rather as an essential institution that supports the workforce and job seekers. The Afpa was established in 1949 and positions itself as the leading provider of professional training for employees and those seeking new careers. The upcoming changes, however, have sparked significant concern among its staff and stakeholders, who worry about the impact on training quality and accessibility.