Apprenticeship shortage hits Germany

 

BERLIN – The number of unfilled apprenticeship positions in Germany reached a record high last year, according to a study released on Tuesday.

Around 35% of all apprenticeship places remained unfilled in 2023, compared to 15% in 2010, the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), an arm of the Federal Employment Agency, reported.

Companies cited a declining number of suitable applicants as the most common reason for the shortfall.

The findings also reflect a shift in the balance of power in Germany from employers to employees since the 2010s, with job-seekers becoming more demanding of companies seeking workers, said IAB Director Bernd Fitzenberger.

In western Germany, the share of unfilled positions was slightly lower than in the east.

The number of unfilled trainee positions also decreased with the size of the company: while around 57% of positions remained vacant in very small companies, it was only 12% in large companies.

The construction industry and personal services trades, such as hairdressing, have seen the biggest difficulties, IAB said, with almost half of all apprenticeship places in these sectors unfilled.

To increase the attractiveness of trainee programmes, companies rely primarily on bonuses and special payments, such as those for passing exams, or holiday bonuses, according to IAB. In 2023, 62% of all companies paid such benefits.

For the study, the IAB used data from the Establishment Panel, a representative annual survey of around 15,000 companies of all sizes and sectors.