With a BTS or DUT in hand, the question arises at every interview: is this diploma sufficient to secure a stable position? The bac+2 remains one of the most common levels of education in France, but its recognition in the job market is evolving rapidly. Between sectors that absorb it without question and others that now require a bac+3, the landscape of 2024 deserves a concrete examination.
Employment rate after a work-study BTS: less favorable signals
The classic reflex for judging the value of a diploma is to look at how many graduates find a job quickly. In this regard, recent data shows a decline.
According to InserJeunes figures, the employment rate for BTS graduates in 2024 is 65% six months after graduation. This is a decrease compared to the 2023 graduates, where the rate for all levels from CAP to BTS in apprenticeship reached 66%. The decline seems small in absolute terms, but it marks a turning point after several years of growth.
This decline does not affect all sectors equally. As confirmed by Atom News analyses, the value of bac+2 largely depends on the chosen field of study and the local job market conditions.
Another indicator weakens the picture: the contract termination rate in work-study programs at bac+2 reaches 26.2% at nine months, according to the Digital and IT Apprenticeship Observatory. This figure has increased by about 11 points between 2017 and 2022, much more than for secondary education programs. In other words, bac+2 work-study paths are today more fragile than often perceived.
Feeling of downgrading: why bac+2 holders feel poorly positioned
Have you ever felt like you were in a position below your skills? This feeling has a name: subjective downgrading. It particularly affects graduates with bac+2 to bac+4 degrees.
Insee notes that in 2024, 15% of young people aged 15 to 34 in employment believe their skills exceed what their job requires. Bac holders or those with bac+2 to bac+4 degrees feel downgraded more often than those with a CAP or a long higher education diploma.
The explanation lies in the intermediate position of bac+2. A CAP trains for a specific job, with technical skills expected by the employer. A bac+5 opens access to managerial positions. Bac+2, however, finds itself in very varied situations: a qualified technician in a tight industrial sector or an administrative employee in a saturated field.
Employment status also plays a role. Young people on fixed-term contracts or temporary work report a greater feeling of downgrading than those on permanent contracts. A significant portion of first jobs after a BTS are through temporary contracts.
Sectors where bac+2 retains real hiring value
The bac+2 does not have the same recognition depending on the targeted sector. Some fields continue to actively recruit at this level, and not just by default.
- IT and cybersecurity are hiring BTS SIO or BTS CIEL profiles, particularly for positions as network technicians, systems support, or database administration. The skills shortage in this sector maintains strong demand at the bac+2 level.
- Commerce and sales represent a significant share of hiring intentions. According to the France Travail 2024 survey, the commerce sector planned for 11.6% of hiring projects, with a candidate shortage benefiting holders of BTS MCO or NDRC.
- Services to individuals and businesses concentrate the majority of recruitment: 63.2% of hiring intentions according to the same survey. Bac+2 level positions exist in management, accounting, and assistance.
In these three areas, a BTS combined with work-study experience remains a functional entry ticket. The difficulty arises when aiming for a quick advancement to a managerial or coordinator position: bac+3 (professional license, bachelor registered with the RNCP) then becomes almost mandatory.
The question of RNCP certification
Why do some recruiters look at the RNCP before the name of the diploma? Because registration with the RNCP guarantees a level of skills recognized by the State, regardless of the institution. A BTS is automatically registered with the RNCP (level 5). But for bachelors or private titles claiming “bac+2,” checking this registration remains a basic reflex for any candidate.
Continuing to bac+3 or capitalizing on bac+2: decision criteria
Pursuing studies after a bac+2 has become common. The question is not whether the bac+2 “is still worth something,” but in which situations it is sufficient and in which it is no longer enough.
- If the targeted sector is actively recruiting at bac+2 (networks, maintenance, field sales), entering the market quickly with solid work-study experience may be more profitable than an additional year.
- If the targeted position consistently mentions “bac+3 minimum” in job postings, a professional license provides a tangible gain in salary positioning and responsibility.
- If the goal is a professional retraining via the CPF, bac+2 remains an accessible format in terms of duration and cost, provided that the training is certifying and aligned with in-demand jobs.
The diploma alone no longer provides protection; it is the combination of training and sector that determines employment. A work-study BTS in cybersecurity in a regional metropolis is entirely different, in terms of opportunities, from a generalist tertiary BTS in a less dynamic area.
The job market of 2024 rewards specialization and the ability to demonstrate operational skills. For a bac+2 holder, the best strategy remains to target a sector in demand, prioritize work-study to accumulate experience, and decide on further studies not by reflex but based on the actual job offers in the targeted employment area.
