Numerous training positions remain unfilled in the South West region
In an effort to combat the skills gap and ensure a stable career path for young people, the "Supported Apprenticeship" program has been introduced in Germany. This funding instrument, overseen by the employment agency, aims to address unfilled training positions and the mismatch between company requirements and young applicants.
The program offers tailored social-pedagogical support and flexible training arrangements, addressing structural, personal, and institutional barriers that often prevent young people, particularly those with special needs, language skills gaps, or other challenges, from successfully completing apprenticeships.
One of the key ways the program helps is through personalised support and guidance. Apprentices receive close mentoring, which aids them in navigating both vocational schools and workplace demands. This approach has proven effective in reducing dropout rates and improving training quality, as demonstrated in Bavaria's geriatric care apprenticeships where socio-pedagogical support helped address workforce shortages in an ageing society.
Flexible training modalities are another crucial aspect of the program. The Vocational Training Act in Germany allows for part-time vocational training, broadening opportunities for individuals with family responsibilities, language learning needs, physical or mental challenges, or other personal circumstances, making apprenticeships more accessible.
The program also seeks to bridge language gaps through specialized vocational language courses, supported by federal programs. This enhancement of job-related German language skills improves young applicants' chances of finding and succeeding in apprenticeships.
As the economy faces a tense situation, reflected in the training market, the number of training positions has decreased compared to the previous years. However, the "Supported Apprenticeship" aims to prevent the waste of potential talents and encourage employers to provide opportunities to applicants with starting difficulties, who may represent untapped potential for tomorrow's skilled workers.
According to Martina Musati, head of the regional directorate of Baden-Württemberg, an apprenticeship is the foundation for a stable career path. As of May, there were a total of almost 67,000 training positions reported, but the number of unplaced young people has increased, with approximately 22,700 still looking for a training position.
Interestingly, the training market is largely carried by applicants with a foreign passport. Over 16 percent more applicants had a foreign passport compared to the previous year, with around 12,400 of these being refugees. In the "Supported Apprenticeship," young people are supported before and during their apprenticeship by training experts who offer tutoring and problem-solving assistance.
Despite these efforts, there are currently around 34,000 unfilled training positions in the southwest. The ongoing high number of unfilled training positions and the increase in unplaced young people indicate that the training market remains tense. However, the "Supported Apprenticeship" program continues to foster inclusion and align apprenticeship supply with demand, addressing systemic barriers that had previously hindered successful training and employment outcomes in Germany.
- The Economic and social policy in Germany, through the "Supported Apprenticeship" program, focuses on education-and-self-development and career-development of young people, providing tailored support to bridge personal, institutional, and language barriers, reduce dropout rates, and improve training quality.
- The career-development opportunities offered by the "Supported Apprenticeship" program extend to both vocational schools and the workplace, with a focus on language skills development, flexible training arrangements, and personalised guidance, aiming to combat the skills gap and ensure young people, including those with special needs or a foreign background, can access and succeed in apprenticeships, contributing to Germany's economic growth.
