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Workers in a blacksmith shop in Klitten, Saxony: 19.1 percent of young adults without a professional qualification

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Florian Gaertner / photo library / IMAGO

Whether in craft businesses or in the catering industry: trainees are desperately needed in Germany. Nevertheless, more and more young people do not have a vocational qualification. For 2022, there were 2.86 million people who did not have a formal qualification - a record number that refers solely to 20 to 34 year olds.

This leaves 19.1 percent of the age group, i.e. almost one in five young adults, without a professional qualification. In 2021 there were 2.64 million, or 17.8 percent. The new figures come from a draft of the new vocational training report, which is currently being prepared and is due to be approved by the Federal Cabinet at the beginning of May at the latest and is available to the “Handelsblatt”.

“The number of young people without a professional qualification is apparently continuing to rise unabated,” said Elke Hannack, deputy chairwoman of the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB). Although numerous training positions remain unfilled, it has not been possible for years to give all young people the opportunity to receive training.

“Against this background, the debate about the increasing shortage of skilled workers certainly sounds like sheer mockery to the ears of many young people,” Hannack told the Handelsblatt.

One explanation for the sharp increase in young people without a vocational qualification is that among young refugees and other immigrants the rate of those with no formal education is twice as high as among young adults as a whole. Nevertheless, according to the draft vocational training report, there is cause for concern.

The earnings of employees without a professional qualification are often below average, which has a negative impact on their pensions. In addition, young employees without formal qualifications run the risk of becoming unemployed more quickly. “Against the background of demographic developments, young people in particular are needed as skilled workers on the labor market,” says the draft.

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