Record-breaking number of apprenticeships available.
In 2021, a record-breaking number of apprenticeship positions went unfilled in Germany, a worrying sign for the industry. According to a survey by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), approximately 42% of businesses couldn't fill all their apprenticeship offers, a rise from 32% in 2018.
The industry, excluding construction, experienced the most significant increase, climbing from 33% to 50%. Other sectors such as hospitality (56% to 67%) and transport and logistics (40% to 54%) also saw an increase. However, the business-oriented services sector remained steady at 26%.
The main reason for these unfilled positions? A lack of applications—36% of companies reported this issue last year, up from 30% in 2018. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation by making career orientation, career advice, and job searches more challenging. Career advisors from employment agencies no longer visited schools, and training fairs and internships had to be axed.
Despite the challenges, companies are eager to extend their career orientation efforts. According to the DIHK survey, three out of four firms aim to boost their career orientation offerings in the future. Half of them plan to offer more school internships, while 38% intend to hold events. Moreover, 25% want to beef up digital information services.
As companies open their doors wide for the next generation, it's essential to tackle the root causes of these apprenticeship gaps. These issues are multi-faceted, stemming from shifting educational preferences, demographic pressures, and mismatched perceptions of vocational education. Furthermore, COVID-19 has accelerated pre-existing trends by disrupting in-person training and employer hiring capacity.
To mitigate these challenges, various measures have been taken, including international partnerships, quality assurance reforms, and employer incentives. For instance, initiatives like the German-Asian Forum aim to recruit and train skilled workers abroad. Meanwhile, unified apprenticeship programs prioritize trainer capacity and standardized curricula to address inconsistencies. Lastly, continuing vocational education agreements aim to reskill existing employees.
In the face of these complex issues, chambers of commerce and industry are focusing on digital apprenticeship matching and sector-specific campaigns, targeting high-shortage fields like construction and healthcare. As we move past the pandemic, we can expect these measures to address the root causes and pave the way for a more robust apprenticeship market.
- The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) survey revealed that three out of four companies aim to enhance their career orientation efforts, with half of them planning to offer more school internships.
- The pandemic has exacerbated the situation of unfilled apprenticeship positions by making career orientation, advice, and job searches more difficult, with employment agencies' career advisors no longer visiting schools and training fairs and internships being canceled.
- As companies strive to open their doors for the next generation, it's crucial to address the root causes of the apprenticeship gaps, which are multifaceted, including shifting educational preferences, demographic pressures, and misconceptions about vocational education.
- To tackle these challenges, various measures have been implemented, such as international partnerships, quality assurance reforms, and employer incentives, like the German-Asian Forum recruitment and training initiative, unified apprenticeship programs, and continuing vocational education agreements to reskill existing employees.
