Unveiling the Reason Behind an Unprecedented Number of Youth in Germany Lacking Formal Education
Revamped Article:
Why Millions of Young Germans Lack Training: A Looming Crisis
By Caroline Amme
The land of "Das Boot" and "Bratwurst" is facing a crisis - a talent deficit. More and more young Germans are skipping vocational training or avoiding university education, leading to a dire shortage of specialists across industries. Here's why, and what can be done to turn the tide.
Young and untrained: It's becoming a growing trend in Germany; every year, a greater number of young people are dodging vocational training and university eduction. According to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), last year alone, there were 1.6 million 20- to 34-year-olds in this predicament, with the numbers increasing annually for over a decade.
On the BIBB's radar, a staggering 2.8 million young adults don't have a vocational qualification. About every fifth person in this age group finds themselves in this situation due to the fact that BIBB statistics include all young adults, while IAB only considers employed individuals.
A Shortage to Shock the Economy
Industries across the board are in dire need of specialists to keep up with the increasing demands: Germany is facing a deficit of over 530,000 qualified workers on average nationwide, with another 200,000 expected to join the shortfall within the next two years, according to the Institute of the German Economy. By 2027, the nation will be short a whopping 730,000 specialists.
Enzo Weber, Professor at the IAB, casts a critical eye on the high numbers in the ntv podcast "Wieder was gelernt." "Standard sectors like social work, healthcare, technology, and IT cry out for specialists. We're also braceing for massive changes with digitalization, AI, and the shift towards green technologies," he explains. Additionally, demographic change plays a role: Over the next 15 years, we're set to lose seven million employed individuals due to retirements.
Skipping School
The trouble begins in primary education. Year after year, thousands of students graduate without a diploma: in 2021, 47,500 students ended their education without a main school-leaving certificate. Approximately six percent of all students fall into this category, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Without a school-leaving certificate, the chances of finding an apprenticeship are slim; around three-quarters of young people without relevant training also lack this essential paper.
Immigration: A Double-Edged Sword?
Another reason for the rising number of untrained young people is migration. Almost 45 percent of 20- to 34-year-old refugees from countries such as Syria or Afghanistan don't have a vocational training certificate, according to an IAB study. Over the past few years, this trend has expanded among young people from other EU countries and among German youth as well, although at a slower pace.
While Weber acknowledges that immigrants aren't necessarily less educated, he stresses the importance of integrating them into the workforce. "We must recognize their skills, help further develop them in a vocational context, and strengthen their qualifications so they can finally achieve a recognized certification," he advises.
A Race to the Bottom
Another reason for the apprenticeship shortage is that some young people are opting to enter the workforce directly after school, often in unskilled jobs. The initial pay is typically higher than that of apprentices, as the minimum wage has increased. However, this won't last long-term, warns Weber.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Comparatively, apprentices in their first year of training will earn at least €680 per month. Helper jobs, on the other hand, pay more than twice as much on average. To bridge this gap, more support is needed for training, including low-threshold offerings where individuals can complete certain modules in a flexible way, often parallel to a job. With a few years of further education, a final qualification is possible through a dual study program.
Weber also recommended expanding career guidance and mentorship programs, urging companies to take a more active role in schools and career fairs. Practical experiences, such as company visits, student projects, internships, and online outreach through social media platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok are vital for sparking interest and paving the way for a new generation of skilled workers.
Missed Connections
There's a huge mismatch between the job market and young people's expectations. Oftentimes, training offers don't align with career aspirations. Additionally, faulty communication is to blame, as a survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Institute of the German Economy revealed.
Companies need to up their game on the social media front - reaching out to young people on the right channels like YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok would bring in more potential applicants. Companies and young people are often missing each other in the hunt for suitable training programs; for example, 71 percent of companies advertise their openings on Facebook, but only 25 percent of young people browse there.
Online platforms can also help address another problem: many young people lack knowledge of available training occupations. However, long-term earnings can be significantly higher in some fields, according to an Institute of the German Economy study. Top earners are technical research and development specialists, with some trained employees even earning more than university graduates.
Community aid programs and vocational training initiatives could help address the issue of untrained young adults in Germany, contributing to their education-and-self-development and career-development. To increase the appeal of vocational training, companies should expand career guidance and mentorship programs, improve communication about training opportunities on social media platforms popular among young people, and offer flexible, low-threshold training modules that can be completed alongside work.
