"Scarcity of Trainees" Unveiling the Reasons Behind Millions of Young Germans without Vocational Training
Uneducated Millions of Youth Population in Germany Unveiled
By Caroline A.
The increasing number of young people in Germany without vocational training or a university degree is cause for concern. Last year, approximately 1.6 million 20-34-year-olds fell into this category, with this figure increasing annually. This trend is challenging, given the urgent need for specialists across various sectors.
The number game is alarming - not only for the apprenticeship void but also for the shortage of qualified professionals: On average, Germany is short by over 530,000 qualified workers, with this number likely to reach 730,000 by 2027, according to the Institute of the German Economy.
Dropping Out of School and Education
More often than not, the problem begins in school. Year after year, tens of thousands of students conclude their educational journey without a diploma: In 2021, around 47,500 students didn't even complete the main school leaving certificate. This accounts for approximately 6% of all students, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Unsurprisingly, the chance of securing an apprenticeship contract without a school leaving certificate is slim—some three quarters of young people without vocational training are uncertificated as well, according to the Vocational Training Report.
Immigrants, Skills, and Integration
A significant factor contributing to this rising trend is immigration. Around 45% of 20-34-year-old immigrants from asylum countries like Syria or Afghanistan do not possess a vocational training qualification, according to an IAB study. This percentage has also risen among young people from other EU countries and among young Germans, although not as profoundly.
IAB Professor Enzo Weber has evaluated the high numbers in the "Wieder was gelernt" podcast. He points out bottlenecks in social services, healthcare, technology, and IT sectors. With digitalization, AI, and the shift towards green technologies, there's a growing demand for specialists and highly skilled personnel. The impending demographic change will exacerbate this issue: Over the next 15 years, we will lose seven million working people due to aging.
Gaining Ground with Training and Education
The German Crafts Industry alone faces a shortage of 125,000 specialists. Some young people choose to forego training and opt for unskilled jobs instead, as these often offer immediate income upon leaving school. However, this will not remain the case, warns Weber: The labor market situation for helpers is expected to deteriorate.
To tackle this issue, more needs to be done for training, including offering low-threshold, flexible training programs in job-related modules, and providing apprentices with degrees after a few years of on-the-job training.
Moreover, enhancing career guidance and orientation is essential. Companies should actively engage with schools and participate in fairs, and offering practical experiences, such as company visits, student projects, or internships, will be crucial. Online communication through social media platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok is also vital, as it allows companies to reach more potential applicants.
Bridging the Gap: Companies and Young People Communicating Efficiently
In Germany, over 73,000 training places remained unfilled in 2023, accounting for more than a third. Many companies receive few or no applications. Companies struggle to find suitable applicants due to a lack of awareness about available training professions and poor communication.
A survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Institute of the German Economy shows that companies advertise their open positions on incorrect channels. Young people are more likely to find job opportunities on platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok, but these platforms are rarely used by companies for recruitment purposes.
Young people are unaware of the long-term earning potential of certain training professions, such as technical research and development specialists. Engaging in multidisciplinary learning and adapting to new technologies and job roles can enhance employability and innovation capabilities, ensuring a successful career as a specialist.
Want to learn more about relevant topics? Tune in to the "Wieder was gelernt" podcast—three times a week, get curious about the world, and become a little wiser.
[Sources]- ntv.de- Institute of the German Economy Cologne- Bertelsmann Foundation- Social Networks (e.g., TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube)- Apprentices- Universities- Application- School- Profession- IAB
[Enrichment Data]The apprentice shortage in Germany arises due to various reasons including demographic changes, digitalization, urban-rural preferences, and limitations in the German vocational system.
To bridge this skills gap, it is crucial to focus on targeted recruitment of foreign skilled workers, flexible employment contracts with performance-tied benefits and project-based contracts, empowering middle management, recognizing and rewarding initiative, embracing new opportunities, adopting adaptability and resilience, seeking diverse skills, actively seeking feedback, and demonstrating leadership potential.
- The German Crafts Industry alone faces a shortage of 125,000 specialists, underscoring the urgent need for vocational training among young people to address this skills gap.
- More than a third of training places remained unfilled in 2023, illustrating the communication breakdown between companies and potential trainees, especially in the digital age.
- Understanding the long-term earning potential of certain training professions is essential for personal-growth, career-development, and employment opportunities, such as technical research and development specialists.
- To tackle the ongoing shortages in the labor market, enhancing career guidance and orientation is crucial, with companies engaging with schools, participating in fairs, and offering practical experiences like company visits and internships.
- Offering low-threshold, flexible training programs in job-related modules, and providing apprentices with degrees after a few years of on-the-job training can encourage more young people to pursue vocational training, ensuring their participation in the average education-and-self-development and contributing to the country's future growth.
