Despite a surplus of available training positions, many young people are struggling to choose a career path. But there is still hope.
The new apprenticeship year begins in September across Bavaria, yet around one-third of school graduates in the state have not signed a vocational training contract. This reflects a broader trend in recent years: young people are taking longer to decide on a career, while many companies report a pressing shortage of apprentices. In an effort to match applicants with employers, two so-called “Last-Minute Job Fairs” were held in the town of Kronach.
Career Orientation at the Eleventh Hour – Teens Explore Jobs in Kronach
At the Kronach vocational school center, students were given the opportunity to select two career fields they wished to explore in depth. Options included working in a bakery, a metal workshop, gastronomy, social care, business, and administration.
In the bakery station, for example, apprentices demonstrated how to properly shape a pretzel or creatively decorate muffins. One participant, 18-year-old Mateusz Proksz, who recently completed his secondary school diploma, shared his thoughts: “I’m still looking for an apprenticeship, and I could definitely see myself working as a baker or a retail assistant.”
Teens Taking Longer to Make Career Decisions
According to experts, it is no longer uncommon for young people to begin thinking seriously about their professional future only after graduation. The Kronach-Lichtenfels Employment Agency organized the Last-Minute Job Fair specifically to fill around 250 open apprenticeship positions in the region. Career advisor Christine Kuntz explained that today’s job market puts less pressure on youth: “In the past, everyone knew they had to apply early or miss out. That is no longer the case.”
Too Many Choices Make Orientation Difficult
A study by the Nuremberg-based Institute for Employment Research (IAB) supports this observation: more and more young people are delaying their career choices. The reasons include the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, various societal crises, and, above all, an overwhelming number of options—there are over 400 different training professions to choose from. As Christine Kuntz notes, many teens find this abundance paralyzing.
Personalized Guidance Opens Doors to New Paths
The value of personalized advice was clear in the case of 20-year-old Nika Karimi. Though she had been considering a career as a childcare worker, her passion for painting had her leaning toward something more artistic. A career counselor suggested a rare but fitting alternative: training as a biological model maker, a profession where anatomical models for science classrooms are created and hand-painted. A company in Rödental is currently seeking apprentices in this field. Nika said she would take time to consider the option.
For the organizers, even a small number of successful matches makes the fair worthwhile. The Employment Agency sees direct job fairs like this one as an important complement to digital platforms and traditional consultations—offering a practical, immediate way to bridge gaps in the training market.
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