It's a Crisis: The Lack of Skilled Workers in Germany
Unprepared Education Leaves German Youth in the Dark: A Massive Issue Unfolding
Why are millions of young people in Germany missing out on vocational training? The numbers keep rising, and it's causing a crisis. Skilled workers are in high demand, but where are they? Let's break down the issue and explore some solutions.
Here's the deal: In 2022, there were 1.6 million 20- to 34-year-olds without any vocational training or a degree, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). That number increases every year, with an alarming 460,000 young people joining the ranks in the past 12 years. To make things worse, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) suggests that close to 2.8 million young adults are missing out on vocational training opportunities- nearly every fifth in this age group!
The Shortage of Skilled Workers: A Huge Problem
Germany is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers, with an estimated 530,000 vacancies on average nationwide. Over the next two years, an additional 200,000 positions are set to open up. By 2027, the Institute of the German Economy predicts that Germany could be missing around 730,000 skilled workers.
Why is this happening, you ask? The blame is shared among several factors.
The Struggle in School
The root of the problem can be traced back to education. Every year, thousands of students complete school without a degree. In 2021, around six percent of all students failed to even complete their main school-leaving certificate, according to the Federal Statistical Office. And, without a school-leaving certificate, chances of finding an apprenticeship contract drop dramatically-three out of four young people without vocational training also lack a school-leaving certificate, according to the Vocational Training Report.
Immigrants: A Mixed Bag
A significant reason for the increasing number of young people without training is immigration. Close to 45 percent of 20- to 34-year-old refugees from asylum countries like Syria or Afghanistan have no vocational training, according to an IAB study. The trend is also on the rise among young people from other EU countries, although not to the same extent, while for young Germans, the rise is not as pronounced.
Solutions: Bridging the Gap
To solve this issue, experts propose several measures, such as:
- Improving Career Guidance: Companies should be present in schools, at fairs, and online. Practical experiences, like company visits, school projects, or internships, can help young people understand their potential career paths. Online communication through social media platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok can also reach more potential applicants.
- Expanding Flexible Training Programs: Low-threshold, flexible training programs that allow individuals to complete certain modules in a dual study program parallel to their job can help them achieve qualifications over a few years.
- Recognizing Competencies: By recognizing competencies and further developing them job-relatedly, more immigrants can unlock their potential in the German labor market. Moreover, companies should be open to retraining and upskilling their workforce to better address the changing needs of the job market.
- Increasing Apprenticeship Remuneration: To attract more young people to vocational training, it's essential to increase apprenticeship wages and close the salary gap with entry-level jobs.
- Community aid could be beneficial in providing financial support for vulnerable young individuals, allowing them to participate in vocational training programs that might otherwise be out of reach due to their financial circumstances, thus alleviating the skilled worker shortage in Germany.
- To encourage more individuals to pursue vocational training, personal-finance education and self-development could be integrated into these programs, teaching students about budgeting, saving, and making sound financial decisions, fostering a better understanding of the long-term benefits of their chosen vocation and improving their financial preparedness.
- Businesses and organizations, as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives, could offer vocational training scholarships or subsidies, focusing on women, refugees, and underrepresented populations, to ensure equitable access to education and combat the growing scarcity of skilled workers in various industries, thus contributing to the country's economic growth and workforce development.
