Open Training Spots in Bavaria: Over 35,000 Remain Unfilled
In Bavaria, the demand for apprenticeships remains strong as the new training year begins, with significant demand in various professions. Markus Schmitz, the head of the regional directorate of the federal agency, encourages young individuals to gain experience during their summer holidays in their desired profession.
One of the sectors with a high demand for apprentices is the automotive industry. BMW Group Plant Regensburg in Bavaria, for instance, employs around 9,250 people, including about 350 apprentices, indicating a robust apprenticeship program.
The demand for apprenticeships is not limited to the automotive sector. In-demand jobs in Germany generally include technical and skilled trades, such as electrical work, engineering, and energy-related fields. Companies are actively expanding their apprenticeship offerings to meet this demand.
However, there is a noticeable gap between the demand and supply of apprentices in certain specialist trades, such as powerline workers. To address this issue, companies like BKW in the broader German-speaking region have created accelerated apprenticeship programs.
Employers who want to attract apprentices are encouraged to invest in quality and view training as a genuine promise for the future, according to DGB Bavaria. Despite the high demand, many companies in Bavaria are unable to find suitable applicants.
The employment agencies report that there are 67 applicants for every 100 training places, indicating a job seeker's market, where companies offer more training places than there are interested parties. However, the decrease in the number of offered training places has not significantly affected the chances for young people without a contract to start an apprenticeship.
The Bavarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BIHK) attributes the decrease in offered training places to cautious investments due to low economic growth. On the other hand, the craft sector has seen an increase, with around 16,600 new training contracts concluded by the end of July, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to last year.
Popular professions for apprenticeships among young women include medical assistants and office management assistants, while among young men, automotive mechatronics technicians, IT specialists, and electronics technicians are the most popular choices.
The trade union DGB Bavaria criticizes employers for focusing solely on the number of training places and not improving the framework conditions. Poor pay, lack of collective agreements, and difficult accessibility in rural areas deter many young people from pursuing training, according to DGB Bavaria.
Despite these challenges, there are still over 35,000 vacant training places in Bavaria. Klaus Josef Lutz, the BIHK President, advises young people to apply for training now or do an internship. The number of young people interested in training in Bavaria has increased to 59,820, an increase of around 1,000 compared to last year.
In summary, the demand for apprenticeships in Bavaria remains high, particularly in automotive manufacturing and technical trades. The supply of apprentices in some specialist trades is insufficient, prompting companies to develop targeted training programs. The popular professions include automotive, electrical, engineering, and energy-related fields, closely tied to Bavaria's industry focus and innovation strategies. The trends indicate a strong and evolving apprenticeship landscape aligned with technological and energy transitions in Bavaria and the German-speaking region.
- In an attempt to address the insufficient supply of apprentices in some specialist trades, like powerline work, companies are developing accelerated apprenticeship programs, such as those offered by BKW, as part of their efforts to meet the high demand for apprenticeships.
- To seize the opportunity presented by the high demand for apprenticeships in Bavaria, particularly in automotive manufacturing and technical trades, young individuals are encouraged to apply for training now or even do internships, as the number of young people interested in training in Bavaria has increased significantly over the past year.
