The reasons are varied, and the consequences are significant for both companies and young people. Fewer and fewer adolescents are choosing vocational training, often because they lack sufficient information.
According to a joint study conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the German Economic Institute (IW), 95 percent of surveyed young people between the ages of 14 and 25 said that information about apprenticeship pay was crucial for them. At the same time, an analysis by the German Trade Union Confederation showed that more than 60 percent of apprentices have difficulty living independently on their training salary.
Greater Guidance Needed
Last year, fewer young people once again signed an apprenticeship contract compared to 2023. According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2024 there were around 475,100 new contracts in the dual vocational training system, which combines training in companies with education at vocational schools. This represents a decline of one percent compared with 2023, when there were approximately 479,800 contracts. In Bavaria, the Employment Agency currently reports 27,500 unfilled training positions, while 9,500 applicants are still searching for a placement.
If positions remain vacant, this is primarily due to a lack of guidance for young people, explained the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The final years of school, in particular, must be used more intensively for career orientation. Career guidance should be made mandatory in schools, with active involvement from companies. In addition, career counseling must be improved, said Bernd Fitzenberger, Director of the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg. It is also essential that young people have the opportunity to gain practical experience before beginning training – for example, through short trial internships or longer placements.
Elke Hannack, Deputy Chair of the German Trade Union Confederation, emphasized: “While the economy increasingly complains about a shortage of skilled workers, at the same time almost 3 million young people in our country have no professional qualification. This does not add up. Politics and employers must finally act decisively. We need an improved training guarantee that applies everywhere in the country. We need more employers who provide training and give young people a genuine chance at an apprenticeship.”
Majority in Industry and Commerce
At the end of 2024, the total number of apprentices in the dual system was reported as 1,217,900. More than half (around 688,500 or 56 percent) were training in industry or commerce. Just under a quarter (341,000 or 28 percent) were learning a trade. The remaining 16 percent were distributed across the liberal professions, the public sector, agriculture, and domestic services.
Today at 4 p.m., BR24 will report live on the subject. Guests will include Ari Dedic, Youth Secretary for the Gastronomy Sector in the state branch, and Hubert Schöffmann, responsible for training and continuing education at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria.
With material from dpa
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