Corona crisis: The situation on the training market is only easing slightly

The situation on the training market in Germany has eased slightly after the significant losses due to the corona pandemic last year.

However, the number of newly concluded training contracts is still well below the pre-Corona level.

The demand for apprenticeship positions has continued to decline and more positions remain vacant.

This is shown by a report published on Wednesday by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).

Accordingly, a total of 473,100 new training contracts were concluded in 2021. That was 5,600 more than in 2020, but still 52,000 less than in 2019. According to the institute, this is based on its own surveys of newly concluded contracts as of September 30th and the training market statistics of the Federal Employment Agency (BA). The number of apprenticeships on offer rose by 8,800 to 536,200 in the current year, but was also well below the level of 2019 (578,200).

The trend that companies and young people have problems finding one another continues unabated. The demand for apprenticeships has fallen again and the number of vacancies has continued to rise. According to this, 63,200 apprenticeship positions would remain unfilled in 2021 (plus 3,200). The demand for positions - this includes applicants with a contract and those who have not yet been successful as of September 30 - decreased by 4,800 to 540,900. According to BIBB, the number has reached a low since 1992, when data for the reunified Germany was available for the first time.

The slight increase in the number of newly concluded training contracts shows "how hard the companies and those responsible for training make an effort to hold on to dual training even in these difficult times," said BIBB President Hubert Esser.

"Nevertheless, it is noticeable that the uncertainty among companies and young people due to the corona pandemic is still high in 2021." Esser warned that where there are no trainees today, there will be no skilled workers tomorrow.

"That is why securing the need for skilled workers will be one of the greatest challenges of this decade."