German youth & apprenticeships: challenges of a skilled labor shortage

Germany's labor market is grappling with a growing shortage of skilled workers, a challenge that costs the economy an estimated 49 billion euros annually, with a potential increase to 74 billion euros by 2027. At the heart of this issue is the transition of young people into professional life. The Bertelsmann Stiftung's recent report, "Ausbildungsperspektiven 2025" (Training Perspectives 2025), sheds light on this crucial process. The survey of 1,755 young people aged 14 to 25 provides vital insights for the future of vocational training and the labor market.

Strong interest in apprenticeships, but persistent uncertainty

The study confirms that vocational apprenticeships remain the most popular post-school educational path in Germany. Nearly nine out of ten young people consider starting an apprenticeship after graduation, and over 40% are firmly committed to this path. This enthusiasm is especially high among students with lower educational levels, for whom apprenticeships are a clear career preference.

However, a significant portion of young people - 45% - remain undecided about their professional future. More concerning is that one in five (20%) plans to work without any formal professional qualification, a figure that rises to one in four among those with lower educational backgrounds. This trend puts individuals at a higher risk of unemployment and lower long-term earnings.

The weak link: career guidance

A major weakness identified by the study is career guidance. Only a third of the young people surveyed feel well-informed about their career options. Over half (51%) complain that despite the abundance of information available, it’s difficult to navigate.

The most valued formats for career orientation are internships lasting a week or more (70%), personal counseling (51%) - whether from teachers, trainers, or career counselors - and company visits (49%). This highlights a strong preference for practical experience and direct human interaction.

Barriers to entry: a complex reality

Several factors hinder young people from pursuing apprenticeships:

• Remuneration: nearly half of the young people (48%) find the apprentice salary too low, a significant point of friction.
• Lack of preparation: 41% of young people feel they weren't sufficiently informed about apprenticeship professions, and 43% feel unprepared for the application and job search process.
• Offer suitability: those with higher education levels report more difficulty finding appealing apprenticeship opportunities.
• Formal requirements: Young people with lower educational backgrounds face more challenges with formal requirements and application hurdles.
• Pessimism about chances: 12% of young people with lower educational backgrounds believe they won't find an apprenticeship, and 23% are uncertain. This skepticism is an alarm bell for inclusion and equal opportunity.

When it comes to searching, online applications dominate (80%). However, for young people with lower educational levels, services from the Federal Employment Agency (63%) and "classic" ads in newspapers or on bulletin boards (49%) remain important channels.

Understanding and acting for the future

Successfully transitioning young people into a professional qualification is an economic and social imperative. To address these findings, several actions are essential:

• Early and personalized awareness: it's crucial to inform young people early on about the long-term risks of lacking a professional qualification. More personalized support, tailored to individual needs, is necessary to ease the school-to-apprenticeship transition.
• Revalue apprenticeships: despite its positive image, the perception of a lack of social recognition for dual vocational training is widespread. It's important to strengthen the prestige of these career paths.
• Active support for the search: parents (77%) are the primary supporters of young people in their apprenticeship search, followed by friends (40%) and teachers (38%). Young people want increased support, especially personal guidance both inside and outside of school.
  

By better understanding young people's perceptions and difficulties, labor market players can work together to build stronger bridges to professional qualification, ensuring a skilled workforce for Germany's future.

Source

• Ausbildungsperspektiven 2025 - Eine repräsentative Befragung von jungen Menschen