Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Main data for the placement survey 2007

A total of 516,400 training places¹  were reported to the BA, 57,200 more than in the previous year. These comprised 423,000 in-company and 93,400 extra-company places.  Both the West (+ 36,100) and the East (+21,000) experienced an increase in the number of places registered. Results matched the interim inventories conducted by the competent bodies. Industry, trade, craft trades and the liberal professions recorded an increase of around 41,400 in registered training contracts. The level of growth in the crafts trades and trade and industry sector was very similar at 8.3% and 9.3% respectively. The rate of increase in the liberal professions was 2.3 %.

Final clarity in respect of how many new training contracts were concluded in the period from 1 October 2006 until 30 September 2007 will not be achieved until December, when it is the turn of BIBB to publish its survey on newly concluded training contracts registered with the competent bodies for vocational education and training. Alongside industry, trade, craft trades and the liberal professions, agriculture, the public sector, housekeeping and maritime shipping are all also included. Since many training contracts concluded within the survey period stated above are not recorded with the competent bodies until between the beginning of October and the end of November and cannot be counted beforehand, it is, unfortunately, not possible to draw up earlier conclusions.
(Results 2006 see: link to portal)

The number of vacant and still available training places was 18,400 (+ 3,000 compared to 2006). Most of these (16,000) were in West Germany, 2,300 vacancies being recorded in East Germany.

The employment agencies registered 734,300 young people as training place applicants, 28,800 fewer than a year ago. This decrease particularly affected the East (- 17,200), where there is already a significant fall in the number of school leavers. In the West, the number of registered applicants went down by 11,500.

Destination of training place applicants end of September 2007 (enlarged)

At the end of the reporting year, a placement mandate had been concluded with a total of 622,700 applicants (85%). 319,800 had found a VET training place. A further 302,900 had either proceeded to alternative arrangements (and required no further placement services) or else had failed to contact the BA again and had given no indication of their whereabouts.

Placement efforts were still ongoing at the end of September for a total of 111,600 applicants (15 %). These included 29,100 applicants who had not been afforded the opportunity/taken the decision to enter vocational education and training or proceed to an alternative. In contrast to this, 82,500 of the applicants still seeking placement had at least found an alternative destination (such as in the form of returning to school, work placement or vocational preparation schemes). For 12,000 of these, the alternative at least comprised the continuation of an already ongoing course of vocational education and training, these young people having applied for a new VET place.

Leaving these young people out of the equation and including applicants with no provision at all (with no alternative), the total number of applicants not in vocational training and for whom placement efforts were still ongoing at the end of September was 99,500.

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Considerable regional market differences depending on population density

Population density (inhabitants per sq. km.), Employment Agency districts (enlarged)

These figures for the Federal Republic of Germany as a whole conceal, however, greatly differing conditions within the individual regions (Employment Agency districts). A critical role is played by the level of urbanisation. There are considerable differences on both the supply and demand sides of the training market between rural areas with very low levels of population
density (cf. the figure on the right) and the metropolitan districts. Both the range and structure of the training places on offer and the number and characteristics of registered applicants exhibit differences.²

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More favourable supply situation in metropolitan areas

In terms of extent and structure of training place provision, metropolitan areas offer two fundamental benefits. The concentration of companies in relation both to the number of registered applicants and in relation to the number of school leavers means that more training places are available on average. This is particularly true when the main client base from within the dual system - the number of general school leavers not entitled to proceed to higher education and in possession of the intermediate school leaving certificate at most - is taken as a yardstick.

In addition to this, the structure of provision within the metropolitan areas is more closely aligned to the career preferences of registered applicants from 2007. 57% of these wished to pursue a service sector occupation, the same quota as measured in the previous year. ³  provision is mainly to be found in the densely populated regions, a population density of 500 and more being required for the amount of service sector occupations as a proportion of all training places offered to reach a level meeting the demand quota (57 %). In rural regions with fewer than 100 inhabitants per square kilometre the proportion is 48 %.⁴

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Significantly lower placement quotas in the major cities

The considerably more favourable supply situation in the metropolitan areas would seem to suggest that young people in the major cities have better chances of placement. The opposite is, however, the case.

Placement quotas reduce continuously in line with increasing population density. Whereas 52.4% of registered applicants in rural areas with population densities of fewer than 100 inhabitants progressed to an apprenticeship in 2007, the figure for metropolitan areas with more than 1,000 inhabitants per square kilometre was only 35.5 %. By the same token, placement efforts needed to be continued for 12.1% of registered applicants in rural regions and for a quota of 17.4% in metropolitan areas.

Although the lower average numbers of applicants progressing to VET in the metropolitan areas is a phenomenon which appeared in previous years, the discrepancy between placement quotas in rural and urban regions, 2007 saw a repeated and significant deterioration to the disadvantage of the latter. Many training place applicants from major cities evidently benefitted either very little or not at all from the upturn on the training market.

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Reasons for the lower placement quota in the metropolitan areas

The reasons for the correlation between the reducing progression quotas and increasing population densities are mainly due to the structure of the respective applicant pools in the individual regions. As the 2006 BA/BIBB applicants survey (in German) conducted between November 2006 und January 2007 shows, applicants registered with the BA represent a relatively heterogeneous group, despite the fact that what they have in common is a demonstration of fundamental aptitude for vocational education and training ⁵ This applies both in respect of their fulfilment of formal prior learning requirements and in terms of their socio-demographic origins and application strategies.

Urban-rural differences in such cases are mainly associated with socio-demographic origins rather than with achievement of formal prior learning requirements. The average level of school leaving qualifications achieved by applicants registered in the major cities is not lower than the level gained by those in rural regions (in fact, the opposite tends to be the case). And neither are any great degrees of deviation to be found in school marks achieved. There are, however, considerable differences in terms of the age of the applicants and in respect of the proportion of applicants from a migrant background. In addition, relevant differences in application behaviour are discernable.

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Significantly higher number of older applicants in the major cities

Registered applicants in metropolitan areas are on average significantly older. The results of the 2006 BA/BIBB applicants survey show that in regions with a population density of more than 1,000 over 40% of applicants were 20 years old and older and only about a quarter were under 18. In the more sparsely inhabited regions with fewer than 100 inhabitants per sq. km. the reverse is the case. In these regions, only 27% of all applicants were 20 or more years old, whereas 41% had not yet reached the age of 18.

Characteristics of applicants in regions with varying levels of population density (enlarged)

The higher age of the applicants in the metropolitan areas corresponded to a higher proportion of unplaced applicants from previous years (Link BIBB REPORT 1). 46 % of applicants in the regions with a density of more than 1,000 inhabitants stated that they had applied to commence training in the past, whereas the figure for regions with a population density of under 100 was only 36%.

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High proportion of young people from a migrant background in the metropolitan areas

Young people from a migrant background predominantly live in the metropolitan areas rather than being spread evenly over the various regions of Germany. According to the results of the 2006 BA/BIBB applicants survey, the proportion of registered applicants from a migrant background rises from about 11% in rural areas to more than a third in densely populated regions. The concentration of applicants from a migrant background in the major cities affects young people from a Turkish, Arab or other backgrounds to a greater degree than young people who have immigrated as resettlers from Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union.

Investigations conducted hitherto show that the chances of young people from a migrant background on the training market are worse. Different school leaving qualifications and school achievements are only part of the reason for this. The strong concentration of young people from a migrant background in the major cities, where competition on the training market is more often fierce, is a further negative factor.

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Characteristics of the major cities: large numbers commuting in, low numbers commuting out

The reason for the particularly fierce level of competition for training places in the major cities is the fact that many young people from the surrounding regional area are also seeking to obtain these places. In rural regions where population density is low, readiness to be regionally mobile is marked. In the 2006 BA/BIBB applicants survey, 47% of applicants from regions where population density is under 100 inhabitants stated that they had applied for apprenticeships more than 100 km away from their home. In the major cities with a population density of 1,000 and more, the corresponding figure was only 19%, even though applicants in metropolitan areas are older on average and thus fulfil better age-related prerequisites for wide-ranging mobility.  

The varying inclinations towards mobility on the part of young people from rural areas and major cities results in net movements into metropolitan areas being positive in almost all cases. The number of people from rural regions finding their training place in the major cities outweighs the number of young people from the major cities commencing their training outside their home region. The high level of willingness on the part of young people from a rural environment to embrace mobility exacerbates applicant competition for training place provision in the metropolitan areas significantly. On the other hand, the pressure on training markets in rural regions is greatly reduced by commuting, another reason for this reverse effect being the fact that applicants from major cities only relatively infrequently attempt to secure a rural training place.

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Lower level of institutional attachment

According to the results of the latest placement survey for 2007, the metropolitan areas contained a particularly large number of applicants for whom the placement mandate had ceased without being able to register progression to a VET body. In the metropolitan areas, the proportion of such applicants was 47.1%, the corresponding figure for employment agency districts with a population density of under 100, however, being only 35.3%.

Such applicants either commenced an alternative, without expressing any interest in further placement endeavours, or their whereabouts remains unknown. The strong level of migration towards alternatives not involving vocational education and training (also including work) and the fact that destinations frequently remain unknown indicate that it is far more difficult to maintain institutional contact with young people in the major cities than it is in rural areas. The high degree of anonymisation of life circumstance in the metropolitan areas may play a significant role here.

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Particular provision problems in the city states

The phenomena listed here - a high level of external demand, a high proportion of unplaced applicants from previous years, young people from a migrant background and applicants who progress to alternatives or whose whereabouts remains unknown - are particularly concentrated in the city states of Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen. Hamburg, for example, offered the highest number of apprenticeships in relation to the number of registered applicants of all 16 federal states, yet recorded this year a quota of progression to training of 33%, one of the lowest city figures, notwithstanding the positive trend displayed on the training market and despite the fact that there has once again been a significant rise in the number of new training contracts. One of the reasons for the low rate of progression is the traditionally strong level of migration of young people from other federal states. The competent bodies in Hamburg estimate that in some cases more than half of apprenticeships in the city were taken up by applicants from outside.

Alongside Hamburg, Bremen (34%) and Berlin (28%), progression rates amongst registered applicants were also particularly low in the major cities of Frankfurt am Main (32%), Hanover (33%), Bochum (33%), Duisburg (just under 35%) und Recklinghausen (just under 35%). Munich (48%) and Dresden (55%) were the only cities to achieve relatively high rates.

Support for disadvantaged young people via such supplementary provision as introductory training and extra-company training places is increasingly focussing on young people in the major cities, a fact already reflected in the BA placement survey for 2007. Whereas the focus of extra-company was strongly concentrated on East Germany in previous years, 2007 saw a significant shift towards the metropolitan areas. The aim was to provide a greater level of support for unplaced applicants from previous years and for young people from a migrant background in particular.

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References to current German language literature available on the topic

• Beicht, Ursula; Friedrich, Michael; Ulrich, Joachim Gerd
  Deutlich längere Dauer bis zum Ausbildungseinstieg: Schulabsolventen auf Lehrstellensuche
  (Significantly longer period of time elapsing before commencement of training: school leavers seeking an apprenticeship)
  Bielefeld: Bertelsmann, 2007
  (BIBB REPORT 2/07)
  ISSN 1865-0821
• Federal Employment Agency
  Arbeitsmarkt in Zahlen. Statistik zum Ausbildungsstellenmarkt. Bewerber und Berufsausbildungsstellen. Berichtsjahr 2006/07
  (The labour market in figures. Statistics on the training places market. Applicants and VET bodies. Reporting year 2006/07)
  Nuremberg: Federal Employment Agency, 2007
  See also: http://www.bibb.de/de/wlk29602.htm
• Friedrich, Michael; Hall, Anja
  Jugendliche mit Hauptschulabschluss. Weniger Wahlmöglichkeiten und geringere Chancen auf eine voll qualifizierende Ausbildung
  (Young people with lower secondary school leaving certificate. Lower levels of choice and fewer opportunities for fully qualified training)
  In the German language periodical: "Vocational Education and Training in Research and Practice", Vol. 36 (2007) 4, pp. 21-22
  ISSN 0341-4515
• Granato, Mona
  Junge Frauen und Männer mit Migrationshintergrund: Ausbildung ade?
  (Young men and women from a migrant background: farewell to training?)
  In the German language publication: Institute for Vocational Training, Labour Market and Social Policy, INBAS (Ed.): "Young people from a migrant background in the transition from school to work", Vol. 15). Offenbach am Main: INBAS. pp. 32-42.
  ISBN 978-3-932428-47-0 
• Granato, Mona
  Berufliche Ausbildung und Lehrstellenmarkt: Chancengerechtigkeit für Jugendliche mit Migrationshintergrund verwirklichen
  (Vocational training and the apprenticeship market: realising equality of opportunity for young people from a migrant background)
  In: WISO direkt, Issue 09-2007
• Troltsch, Klaus; Walden, Günter
  Beschäftigungssystem dominiert zunehmend Ausbildungsstellenmarkt. Zur Responsivität des dualen Ausbildungssystems
  (Employment system increasingly dominating training place market. On the responsiveness of the dual training system)
  In the German language periodical: "Vocational Education and Training in Research and Practice", Vol. 36 (2007) 4, pp. 5-9
  ISSN 0341-4515
• Uhly, Alexandra; Erbe, Jessica
  Auszubildende mit Hauptschulabschluss: vom Normalfall zur Randgruppe?
  (Trainees with a lower secondary school leaving certificate: becoming a marginalised group rather than the norm?)
  In the German language periodical: "Vocational Education and Training in Research and Practice", Vol. 36 (2007) 4, pp.15-20
  ISSN 0341-4515
• Uhly, Alexandra; Granato, Mona
  Werden ausländische Jugendliche aus dem dualen System der Berufsausbildung verdrängt?
  (Are foreign young people being squeezed out of the dual system of vocational education and training?) 
  In the German language periodical: "Vocational Education and Training in Research and Practice", Vol. 35 (2006) 3, pp. 51-55
  ISSN 0341-4515
• Ulrich, Joachim Gerd; Ehrenthal, Bettina; Häfner, Elfriede
  Regionale Mobilitätsbereitschaft und Mobilität der Ausbildungsstellenbewerber
  (Regional mobility readiness of training place applicants)
  In: Eberhard, Verena; Krewerth, Andreas; Ulrich; Joachim Gerd [Eds.]: "The shortage of apprenticeships. On the current situation of training place applicants in Germany"
  Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann, 2006, pp. 99-120
  (In the German language periodical "Vocational Training Reports": Vol. 279)
  ISBN 3-7639-1087-5
• Ulrich, Joachim Gerd; Krekel, Elisabeth M.
  Welche Ausbildungschancen haben "Altbewerber"?
  (What are the training chances of unplaced applicants from previous years?)
  In the German language periodical: "Vocational Education and Training in Research and Practice", Vol. 36 (2007) 4, pp.11-13
  ISSN 0341-4515
• Ulrich, Joachim Gerd; Krekel, Elisabeth M.:
  Zur Situation der Altbewerber - Ergebnisse der BA/BIBB-Bewerberbefragung 2006
  (The situation of unplaced applicants from previous years)
  Bielefeld: Bertelsmann, 2007
  (BIBB REPORT 1/07)
  ISSN 1865-0821
• Walden, Günter (Ed.):
  Qualifikationsentwicklung im Dienstleistungsbereich: Herausforderungen für das duale System der Berufsausbildung
  (Qualifications development in the services sector: challenges for the dual system of vocational education and training)
  Bielefeld: Bertelsmann, 2007
  (Publication series/Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training)
  ISBN 978-3-7639-1097-7

footnotes:

01 Since results for 2007 will not be available until mid-December, these calculations are based on the results in respect of relative extent and structure of training place provision in 2006.
02 Regions with average levels of population density almost always occupy a middle position between these two opposing poles.
03 For purposes of comparison, 37% of applicants stated that their first preference was a manufacturing occupation and a further 6% wished to pursue another occupation. Cf. German language publication Federal Employment Agency (2007): The labour market in figures. Statistics on the training places market. Applicants and VET bodies. Reporting year 2006/07. Nuremberg: Federal Employment Agencyt.
04 Since results for 2007 will not be available until mid-December, these calculations are based on the results in respect of relative extent and structure of training place provision in 2006.
05 The policy of the BA is only to categorise those seeking advice as training place applicants if they display the aptitude for the training occupations they are aiming to pursue and are in possession of a sufficient level of apprenticeship entry maturity.

Erscheinungsdatum und Hinweis Deutsche Nationalbibliothek

Publication on the Internet: November 6, 2007

URN: urn:nbn:de:0035-0220-1

Deutsche Nationalbibliothek has archived the electronic publication "The upturn on the training market continues apace", which is now permanently available on the archive server of Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.

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Last modified on: November 29, 2011