More than four out of ten IHK training companies were not able to fill all of the training positions offered last year.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The search for apprentices is proving to be more difficult than ever for German companies, also because of the corona pandemic. In view of the lack of applicants, one could say: “Apprenticeship is looking for trainees,” said Achim Dercks, Deputy Managing Director of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK).
It has never been more difficult for companies to find suitable apprentices. According to a DIHK survey of around 15,000 training companies nationwide, more than four out of ten companies were not able to fill all the places in 2021, a negative record. 36 percent of the companies did not receive a single application – in 2018 it was 30 percent.
The situation is likely to get even worse this year. Because according to data from the Federal Employment Agency, the situation is more difficult than ever: At the end of July, there were 77 applicants for every 100 registered training positions. Last year there were 83.
A total of 233,400 unfilled company training places were registered at the end of July – a fifth more than in the previous year. The number of applicants who had not yet found an apprenticeship fell to 118,000 – 8,700 fewer than in July 2021.
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In addition to the demographic development, the pandemic is considered to be the main cause of the misery: because of the lockdowns, neither career orientation in schools nor career advice could take place for a long time. Training fairs and trial internships in companies were cancelled.
In 2022, Corona will continue to make it considerably more difficult for companies and young people to search, said Dercks. In addition, the career aspirations of the applicants or their unwillingness to change location do not match what the companies are offering, and this trend is increasing.
According to a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation, two-thirds of school leavers complain about the lack of information about the world of work. More than half feel overwhelmed when choosing a career. As a result, more and more people are putting off making a decision and prefer to go to school or vocational school longer. In 2021, this applied to 230,000 young people.
Companies are very aware of the importance of professional orientation, emphasized Dercks. Therefore, new digital formats were developed during the pandemic “in order to cushion the lack of offers from schools and employment agencies in the best possible way”.
And companies want to step up their commitment: According to the DIHK survey, three out of four training companies would like to expand their range of vocational orientation options. 51 percent alone are planning more student internships, 38 percent events and one in four wants to strengthen the digital information offering. “Companies have opened their doors and gates wide and are courting young people,” said Dercks.
Companies against “training guarantee for desired job”
However, four fifths of the companies reject a “training guarantee for desired occupations”. This is aimed at the training guarantee announced by the traffic light government. At the same time, this is intended to supply the many interested parties who have been left empty-handed and to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers. However, there is no concrete proposal yet.
The Federal Ministry of Labor had indicated that it wanted to orientate itself towards Austria, where eight percent of the apprentices learn at least the first year in state administration. The apprenticeships are determined in consultation with industry.
In the DIHK survey, 43 percent of the companies were concerned that external qualifications did not meet the needs in practice, twelve percent feared a further decline in applications. Every tenth company pointed out that young people who had poor school grades also had good opportunities in the company.
DIHK Vice Dercks pleads for an alternative model to the “guarantee”: young people who do not find an apprenticeship by the end of September should receive three offers for company training – “albeit not always in the desired job”.
More: Labor market in Germany: 1.9 million vacancies despite fear of falling