Today in Rhein-Main: Vacancies instead of apprenticeships

In Hesse, the capacity for refugees is running out, apprenticeships are in danger of becoming vacant due to the lack of trainees, and conflicts over Wiesbaden housing projects are programmed. The FAZ Hauptwache takes a look at the topics of the day.

Good evening,

in Hesse there are discussions about the distribution of refugees.

Some counties call them unfair.

In addition, fewer young people than in the same period of the previous year have started an apprenticeship – which in turn is causing concern for the economy.

Dissatisfaction also in Wiesbaden: there, the housing shortage determines city politics.

There are suggested solutions.

It remains to be seen whether these can be enforced against the resistance of some citizens.

Because the attitude seems to apply again: Housing shortage?

Then build again!

But please not in front of my window!

Marie Lisa Kehler

Deputy head of the regional section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

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Dispute about distribution:

The scenes that took place at Frankfurt Central Station in the spring of this year are burned into many people's memories.

Thousands of people fleeing Ukraine, small children in hand, belongings stuffed into a suitcase.

The number of people seeking protection from war and unrest in their home countries has risen sharply in recent months.

The cities, the districts and the Hessian initial reception facilities feel this.

After many months of pragmatic tackling, however, resentment is growing.

The distribution system in Hesse does not deal fairly with all municipalities.

At least that's what the most affected districts, the Wetterau and the Main-Kinzig district, complain about.

There are also complaints that the city of Frankfurt is allocated proportionally fewer refugees than other cities.

That is a misrepresentation, it is said from the Main metropolis.

After all, more people were admitted than all other cities, especially in the early days, and the quota was even “exceeded”.

A look at the so-called initial reception facilities, in which asylum seekers are temporarily accommodated before they are ideally referred to the municipalities, shows how much the state of Hesse is in need.

The places threaten to be scarce.

That is why the state informed the cities and municipalities in writing a few weeks ago that they have to take in more refugees than before.

Frankfurt was an exception.

Precisely because the admission quota was already more than met in the spring, according to the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs.

Our author Monika Ganster summarizes the discussion and explains,

Apprentices wanted:

"What are you doing after high school?" - "Studying!" Standard answer.

Which subject seems completely secondary at first.

The main thing is to get out.

The main thing is to enjoy the freedom.

Starting an apprenticeship, combined with regular working hours and a low salary, seems anything but attractive to many young people in Hesse.

The number of those who wanted to start an apprenticeship this fall and were registered with the employment agencies fell by 4.3 percent compared to the previous year.

According to the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs, around 33,700 young people were looking for an apprenticeship.

On the other hand, there were 34,500 registered training places in Hessian companies.

Compared to 2020, the number of applicants has decreased by almost 15 percent.

Many companies also complain

that they can no longer fill their apprenticeship positions with suitable applicants.

Business editor Patricia Andreae comments: “If training positions become vacant because they cannot be filled, they will probably disappear in the next few years.

So the downward spiral continues.

And it could turn into a whirlpool that would be dangerous for the economy.” Meanwhile, the Federal Employment Agency is also reporting positive developments in Hesse.

Admittedly, to celebrate this as a success would be an exaggeration.