Uneducated Millions of Youth in Germany: A Perplexing Demographic Issue.
Training Crisis: Why Millions of Youngsters in Germany Lack Skills
Let's dive into the alarming issue of a skills gap in Germany, with millions of young adults lacking vocational training. This trend is causing concerns as specialists are in high demand. But don't fret, there are ways to tackle this problem.
It's a troubling trend: Each year, more and more youngsters in Germany graduate without any vocational training or a degree. In 2022, approximately 1.8 million individuals aged 20-34 were in this predicament, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). And it's getting worse, with an additional 460,000 unskilled youth added over the last 12 years.
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) reports an even more staggering figure, stating that 2.8 million young adults lack a vocational qualification – that's almost one in five in this age group. The difference comes from the fact that the BIBB data includes everyone in this age group, while the IAB only looks at employed individuals.
Data Protection The skills shortage is critical considering Germany has a deficit of over 530,000 qualified workers nationwide on average. That number is estimated to grow by another 200,000 in the next two years, reaching around 730,000 by 2027, predicts the Institute of the German Economy.
Skipping School
Enzo Weber, IAB Professor, is worried about the surging numbers. In the ntv podcast "Wieder was gelernt," he notes bottlenecks in sectors like social care, healthcare, technology, and IT.He adds that the digitalization, AI, and green tech transitions require specialists and highly skilled individuals. Weber also points out that over the next 15 years, Germany will see the retirement of seven million employed persons due to aging.
A Missed Opportunity
Three-quarters of jobs in Germany necessitate corresponding training, according to Weber – and many young people lack it. "The qualification holds high value in Germany," he says.
The problem begins in school. Every year, thousands of youngsters finish school without a diploma: in 2021, 47,500 students didn't even complete the main school leaving certificate. Without a school leaving certificate, securing an apprenticeship becomes more challenging. And tragically, about three-quarters of young people without vocational training also lack a school leaving certificate, according to the Vocational Training Report.
A decisive reason for the increase in young unskilled individuals: immigration. Approximately 45 percent of 20-34-year-old refugees from countries like Syria and Afghanistan have no vocational training, according to the IAB study. Both the numbers among young people from other EU countries and among German youth have climbed, though not as dramatically.
Weber advocates strengthening integration into the labor market. "We must recognize competencies, further develop them in a vocational context, and continue to qualify – so that the qualification can ultimately be achieved," he says.
Another reason for the apprenticeship shortage: Some young people opt for immediate employment after school, often in unskilled jobs. The pay is higher in the short term, made more attractive by increased minimum wage.
Economy: Job Vacancies as OpportunitiesSchool leavers become attractive to companies because they can offer competitive wages and gain valuable employees. In comparison, apprentices in their first year of training earn at least 680 euros per month; helpers can earn twice as much on average. However, this won't last – helper jobs will see a labor market deterioration, warns Weber.
Thus, more efforts are needed for training: low-threshold offers with flexible training options parallel to work and final qualification possible through dual study programs in a few years. Weber also recommends expanding career guidance and career orientation, with companies present in schools and at trade fairs. Practical experiences, like company visits, student projects, internships, and online communication via social media, are essential.
Ghosting and Miscommunication
The skills gap in Germany remains significant: over 73,000 training places remained unfilled in 2023, a record high. Every second training company can't find enough apprentices – many companies don't even receive a single application. Companies often cite a lack of suitable applicants as the main reason, and some struggle with apprentices suddenly dropping out – nearly a quarter of companies with unfilled training places are affected by "ghosting."
Economy: Companies Get Creative, Survey: Every second company finds too few apprentices
Often, training offers don't suit young people's career aspirations. Faulty communication is also a factor, as shown by a survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Institute of the German Economy (IW). Companies communicate on different channels than young people, reaching more potential applicants if they used YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok. "Companies and young people often communicate past each other in the search for training places," says Bertelsmann training expert Hellen Renk.
More online communication on the right channels could solve another problem: young people only know a fraction of the training occupations. However, they can earn significantly more in the long term in some of them, according to an IW study. Top earners are technical research and development specialists. Some trained employees even earn more than university graduates.
- The skills gap in Germany is a concerning issue, particularly the high number of youngsters lacking vocational training, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB).
- In 2023, over 73,000 training places remained unfilled, a record high, due to a lack of suitable applicants and miscommunication, as shown by a survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Institute of the German Economy (IW).
- With the help of community aid, vocational training can provide opportunities for young people to gain the necessary skills that the economy needs, like specialists in sectors such as IT, healthcare, and technology.
- To address this turnaround in education-and-self-development, experts like Enzo Weber suggest expanding career guidance and opening more company communication channels, such as social media, for greater general-news outreach and better engagement with young people interested in vocational training.
