Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

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28/ 2006
Bonn, 10.08.2006

Vocational training preparation: Small firms in particular (still) reserved

Businesses in general and smaller firms with less than 50 employees in particular say they are not very informed about the subject of vocational training preparation as regulated by Germany's Vocational Training Act. They think it is a good idea to have vocational training preparation for disadvantaged youths. However, some two-thirds of all companies are very reserved when it comes to actually conducting vocational training preparation themselves. Firms that currently provide in-house training or already have experience with disadvantaged youths tend to be much more willing to offer it. Even though the companies surveyed have a very positive view of measures to integrate disadvantaged youths into vocational training or employment, a majority is of the opinion that vocational training preparation is not the responsibility of regular businesses.

These are just a few of the core findings of a representative survey of 3,028 firms commissioned by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training ("BIBB"). This survey was an elemental part of a BIBB research project that had the object of determining the degree to which companies are informed about the possibility of conducting vocational training preparation themselves or in conjunction with education providers who have socio-educational experience. This survey also examined whether firms are willing to offer vocational training preparation and, when they are not, their reasons for not doing so. The representative survey also focused on companies' evaluation and use of training modules in vocational training preparation.

More than two-thirds of the companies surveyed cited operational demands that did not allow employing youths who are slow learners or socially disadvantaged as the main reason for not offering vocational training preparation. Other obstacles identified by the respondents were the fear of additional burdens, not enough personnel that would specifically look after youths undergoing vocational training preparation, and not having training places or jobs to offer these young people once they complete their vocational training preparation.

Companies of all sizes say the tool "training modules" makes good sense. The companies surveyed however think that vocational training preparation that  uses training modules is a good idea only when it is organized in association with other firms and an education provider or vocational school.

Companies say they would be more willing to conduct vocational training preparation if prospective participants first underwent "prequalification" through a training provider, there was flanking socio-educational support (which the vast majority of firms feel they are unable to provide) and there were financial incentives or tax breaks. Most importantly however, the respondents indicated that additional information about and awareness of vocational training preparation could help persuade more businesses to conduct this type of training. By comparison, the amount of payment participating youths are to receive does not play any special role in their considerations.

Businesses are presently more integrated into vocational training preparation than in the past as a result of the Federal Employment Agency's continued development of vocational preparation schemes, the Vocational Training Act's inclusion of vocational training preparation as of 1 January 2003, the use of training modules, and Introductory Training for Young People. Incorporating firms more and more into the training of young people who do not (yet) have the fundamental knowledge and attitudes required for successful vocational training is expected to improve the numbers of young people who make the transition to vocational training and employment as a result of vocational training preparation's ability to open company doors to them and then increase a company's likelihood of retaining their "fledglings" after their vocational training preparation, either through a training place or a job.

The findings from this BIBB research project have been published in:

Brigitte Seyfried: "Berufsausbildungsvorbereitung aus betrieblicher Sicht", Bonn, 2006.

This publication can be ordered from:
W. Bertelsmann Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Postfach 10 06 33
33506 Bielefeld
Germany

Price: € 16.90 

The BIBB homepage offers further information about training modules in German at
www.good-practice.de/bbigbausteine

Point of contact at BIBB for further information on this subject:
Brigitte Seyfried, Tel.: +49 (0) 228 - 107 1308, Fax: +49 (0) 228 - 107 2973, E-mail: seyfried@bibb.de