Recent Developments
The current picture in a nutshell from the Report on Vocational Education and Training from the Federal Ministery of Education and Research (BMBFSFJ 2025) shows:
Beginners in education and training
The number of beginners in the vocational training sector remained stable compared with the previous year. Both dual vocational training under the BBiG/HwO (-1.1%) and other school-based vocational training (-1.5%) recorded a decline, while the number of beginners in school-based vocational training under the BBiG/HwO increased by 0.1%. Both dual vocational training in accordance with the BBiG/HwO (-1.1%) and other school-based vocational training (-1.5%) recorded a decline, while the number of beginners in vocational training in the health, education and social services sectors rose (+2.1%). In the ‘transition sector’, the number of new entrants increased by 3.3%. In the ‘study’ sector, there was a slight increase (1.9%) in 2024.
Slight decline in the number of new training contracts concluded under the Vocational Training Act and the Crafts and Trades Regulation Code
The current economic situation is also reflected in the training figures for 2024. After the training market had recently recovered somewhat from the losses incurred in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, stagnation is now evident for 2024. As of 30 September 2024, 486.700 training contracts had been concluded, 2.500 (-0.5%) fewer than in 2023. The number of company contracts, at 473.400, was slightly (-0.3% or 1.500 contracts) below the previous year's level. The number of external contracts fell by 7.1% or 1.000 to 13.300.
Decline in training opportunities
Nationwide, 556.100 training places were offered. The number of training opportunities (newly concluded training contracts plus unfilled vocational training places) was thus 6.500 (-1.2%) lower than in the previous year. The number of in-company training places (excluding predominantly publicly funded training places) stood at 542.800. This means that businesses and companies in Germany provided 5.500 (-1.0%) fewer training places than in the previous year.
Increase in demand for dual vocational training
After declines in previous years, demand among young people for training has risen slightly for the second year in a row. Demand for training is calculated from the number of newly concluded training contracts (realised demand) plus the number of people reported in the statistics of the Federal Employment Agency who are still looking for a training place. According to the traditional definition of demand, demand in 2024 stood at 517,900. This is 2,300 (+0.4%) more than in 2023. Demand according to the expanded definition rose to 557,100 (+4,200 or +0.8% compared to 2023).
Continued difficulties in matching supply and demand
As of 30 September, 31.200 applicants were still without a placement. This is a new high in the time series since 2009. Compared with the previous year, the number of applicants without a placement rose by 4.800 (+18.1%). The number of applicants with alternatives and further placement requests in training was also above the previous year's level at 39.200 (+1.900 or +5.1%). This means that a total of 70.400 applicants were still looking for a training place and wanted the Federal Employment Agency to place them in one. That is almost 7.000 more than in the previous year (2023: 63.700). In relation to all registered applicants, their share was 16.3% (2023: 15.1%).
Unlike in previous years, the number of unfilled vocational training places did not continue to rise in 2024. It fell by 4.000 (-5.5%) to 69.400. This means that, as of the reference date of 30 September (unlike in the two previous years), the Federal Employment Agency`s statistics showed that there were still more applicants looking for positions than there were unfilled positions.
Additional challenges selected from the Datareport of the Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB 2025) show:
Participation of companies in training
According to analyses by the BIBB based on data from the Federal Employment Agency 's employment statistics, a total of 402,800 companies participated in the vocational training of adolescents and young adults in the 2023 reporting year. Compared to the previous year, the number of training companies fell by 5.900 (-1.4%). The training company rate was 18.8% (2022: 18.9%). The decline is attributable to a decrease in the number of training companies among micro and small enterprises. Among medium-sized and large enterprises, the number of training companies developed slightly positively. The result should also be viewed in the context of the more pronounced difficulties smaller enterprises have in filling vacancies.
People without vocational qualifications
According to BIBB calculations based on the microcensus, the proportion of young adults aged 20 to 34 without formal vocational qualifications was 19.0% in 2023 (2022: 19.1%). This equates to an estimated 2.86 million young adults without formal qualifications, which is exactly the same number as in 2022. People without a school leaving certificate are particularly at risk of not obtaining a vocational qualification. The rate of unskilled workers decreases with increasing levels of education. People with a migrant background are also disproportionately likely to remain without a vocational qualification.