During her presentation of the 2015 Vocational Training report in Berlin, the Minister for Education and Research, Johanna Wanka indicated that the apprenticeship market for youths was in slightly better shape. The number of apprenticeship contracts signed in 2013/2014 had slipped by 1.4% to 522,000 but this fall was smaller than the one witnessed in the previous year (-3.7%). Nonetheless other data also indicate that Germany’s slow erosion in apprenticeships continues. The number of vacant apprenticeships has reached record highs (37,100), whilst the number of unsuccessful youth candidates for apprenticeships still remains high. To halt this trend the Minister for Education has announced a new campaign aimed at improving the image of vocation training. Unions are criticizing businesses for being too fussy in ignoring those youths who have left the education system earlier than usual (Hauptschulen).
Another drop in the number of training companies. From amongst the many reports available on apprenticeships (c.f. article No. 8579) much seems to hinge on whose perspective is reporting including their political allegiance. As could be expected, during the presentation of this 2015 Vocation Training report the Minister for Education and Research (CDU) pushed the positive aspects and underlined that vocational training remained a pillar of Germany’s education ethos and was the reason for Europe’s lowest youth unemployment rate (7.4%).
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